chicagotribune--2020-05-20--Gov. J.B. Pritzker preaches patience, expresses optimism as Illinois coronavirus metrics improve

Pritzker ’ s plan requires 28 days of monitoring public health data in four regions of the state before each @ @ @ @ @ phase as soon as May 29 .
In that new phase , gatherings of 10 @ @ @ @ @ allowed for any reason , fitness and health clubs could offer one-on-one training and outdoor @ @ @ @ @ could reopen with restrictions as could manufacturing businesses , offices and retailers .

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)
While the state’s testing rate for COVID-19 is greatly improved and hospitalizations are at their lowest point this month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker continued to preach patience Tuesday as Illinois residents look forward to moving on to a new phase in the reopening plan at the end of the month.
“We’re all itching to move ahead. So why can’t we just do it now?” Pritzker said. “Well, there’s no doubt this is hard, but public health means that each of is working to protect all of us. It’s about our collective impact on each other.”
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In addition to Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Pritzker enlisted two other doctors during his daily briefing Tuesday to support his argument that despite progress against the virus, residents need to remain vigilant, stay home and practice social distancing.
They made the case for patience as some mayors and law enforcement officers continue to say they won’t follow Pritzker’s plan to gradually reopen the state, and after the governor recently instituted a new rule to issue misdemeanor citations to business owners who refuse to follow public health guidelines.
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“This is a fight against a virus, not an ideology,” said Dr. Emily Landon, executive medical director for infection prevention and control at the University of Chicago Medicine, in urging residents to continue to follow the state’s guidelines.
[ How will Illinois reopen? Three charts breaking down Pritzker’s plan ]
Illinois health officials on Tuesday announced 1,545 new known cases of the coronavirus from among 18,443 tests over the previous 24 hours. There were also 146 additional deaths reported, bringing the death toll to 4,379 since the pandemic began. Statewide, there have been 98,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from a total of 621,684 tests.
In addition to his daily dose of caution, Pritzker flashed some optimism, again reporting that the four regions of the state outlined in his reopening plan are on track to move on to phase three on May 29.
Illinois transitioned into phase two of Pritzker’s reopening plan on May 1, with nonessential businesses remaining closed and a handful of outdoor activities allowed, while face coverings continue to be required in stores and other public settings where social distancing isn’t practicable. The governor acknowledged that the lives of many Illinoisans “didn’t change much between phase one and phase two.”
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
Pritzker’s plan requires 28 days of monitoring public health data in four regions of the state before each can transition to the third phase as soon as May 29. In that new phase, gatherings of 10 people or fewer would be allowed for any reason, fitness and health clubs could offer one-on-one training and outdoor classes, barbershops and salons could reopen with restrictions as could manufacturing businesses, offices and retailers.
“It’s critical that we observe the full 28-day measurement period before moving forward to phase three,” Pritzker said. “The good news is we’re just 10 days from that point, and as of now, all four regions of Illinois are on track to moving forward into phase three before the end of May."
The governor also announced that Illinois had passed New York in the per capita daily administration of COVID-19 tests, which he called “significant measurable progress.”
“Among the most populous states, Illinois has now overtaken New York as the No. 1 state in the nation for per capita testing over the last seven days,” Pritzker said, calling it “very exciting news.”
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[ As the coronavirus spreads, the Tribune is tracking Illinois cases here ]
Among all states, Illinois ranks No. 3 in per capita testing, behind Rhode Island and New Mexico, according to data cited by the governor’s office at covidtracking.com. New York ranks sixth behind Connecticut and North Dakota, according to the data.
The progress came as the federal government on Tuesday announced a new round of funding for local COVID-19 testing efforts. That includes $286.3 million for the state and $187.5 million for Chicago, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
bruthhart@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @BillRuthhart


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Pritzker says state passes New York in per capita daily COVID-19 te

Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Pritzker says state passes New York in per capita daily COVID-19 tests as officials report 1,545 new known cases and 146 more deaths

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday afternoon that Illinois has passed New York in per capita daily administration of COVID-19 tests , which he called “ significant measurable progress.
” “ Among the most populous states , Illinois has now overtaken New York as the No .
1 state in the nation for per capita testing over the last seven days , ” Pritzker said , calling it “ very exciting news.
” Among all states , Illinois ranks No .
3 in per capita testing , behind Rhode Island and New Mexico , according to data cited by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York ranks sixth behind Connecticut and North Dakota , according to the data .
Pritzker also said all four regions of the state remained on track to enter the next phase of reopening businesses on May 29 .
State officials announced 1,545 new known cases of the coronavirus from among 18,443 tests over the previous 24 hours .
There were also 146 additional deaths reported , bringing the death toll to 4,379 since the pandemic began .
Statewide , there have been 98,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from a total of 621,684 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that Illinois led the nation in per capita daily COVID-19 tests .
Illinois ranks No .
3 nationally in per capita testing , and leads the nation ’ s most populous states after passing New York .
The National Federation of State High School Associations released guidance Tuesday for its 51-member associations to follow while considering how to reopen athletics and activities .
The document was developed by the federation ’ s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee in response to the coronavirus pandemic that has shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basketball state tournaments and the entire spring sports state tournaments administered by the Illinois High School Association .
The NFHS plan outlines three specific phases and defines sports as lower risk , moderate risk and higher risk .
Tiers are created for essential , preferred and nonessential personnel allowed at events .
“ We believe this guidance document will be a tremendous resource for our member state associations as they determine the timetables for reopening sports and activities , ” said Dr. Karissa Niehoff , NFHS executive director .
The NFHS noted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a local and regional basis .
Each state will be different , and likewise , each sport will be different .
Individual cross country , golf , individual swimming and certain individual events in track are considered lower risk .
Basketball , baseball , gymnastics , hockey , soccer , softball , tennis , volleyball , water polo , swimming relays , 7-on-7 football and the pole vault , high jump and long jump are moderate risk .
Baseball , gymnastics , softball , tennis , volleyball and the pole vault , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially considered lower risk with “ appropriate cleaning of equipment and use of masks by participants.
” Read more here .
While the sheriffs of Kane and Kendall counties made announcements late last week that they will not enforce the governor ’ s stay-at-home and social distancing orders , not all local police departments have been as vocal about their enforcement policies .
In their announcements , Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain and Kendall County Sheriff Dwight Baird said they will not fine or arrest people for gathering in large groups , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the coronavirus pandemic .
While not all local police departments have said they are not enforcing the governor ’ s order , they are aiming for voluntary compliance and , rather than arrest residents , would rather educate them on how to stop the spread of COVID-19 .
Aurora police spokesman Paris Lewbel said the department is enforcing the governor ’ s executive order , but no one in Aurora has faced criminal charges .
The department is continuing to focus on educating residents and encouraging people to practice social distancing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a last resort and in extreme circumstances of non-compliance , Lewbel said .
Aurora ’ s City Council passed an ordinance that gives the police department the right to charge violators of the governor ’ s orders with disorderly conduct , but not all cities have taken that step .
Read more here .
—Megan Jones A second lawsuit against Bria of Geneva nursing home was filed Tuesday , claiming the facility failed to implement basic precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus after a number of its residents died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family of Lucille “ Lucy ” James , a resident at the nursing home in Geneva who died of COVID-19 May 1 , is suing the long-term care facility , claiming it failed to comply with preventative directions of the Illinois Department of Public Health and did not prevent the spread of the virus .
James ’ son-in-law Ed Borowiak said the family did not find out she had coronavirus until after her death .
James , 80 , lived at the nursing home for about three-and-a-half years .
The lawsuit accuses the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment and sufficient testing kits for residents and staff .
It also failed to implement continuous screening checks on residents and staff , such as temperature checks and using a checklist to identify symptomatic residents , the lawsuit states .
Read more here .
—Megan Jones 5:17 p.m. : Mariano ’ s parent Kroger will not seek repayment from workers it overpaid during COVID-19 outbreak Mariano ’ s parent company , Kroger , will not seek repayment from employees the grocery chain overpaid for time they took off to self-quarantine .
When the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Kroger began offering paid time off to employees who needed to self-isolate , were experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who needed time off for another virus-related reason .
Dozens of employees at Chicago-area Mariano ’ s stores that had taken the paid time off recently received letters from Kroger notifying them that they had been overpaid and would need to pay the money back , said Zach Koutsky , spokesman for Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union .
Outrage erupted on Twitter after a user posted a screenshot Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employee to return overpaid funds .
Kroger spokeswoman Kristal Howard said Tuesday in a statement that the company would not seek repayment .
“ We ’ ve instructed our payroll department to directly inform the small number of associates affected by the recent overpayments of Emergency Leave of Absence pay that we will not seek repayment , ” she said .
Read more here .
—Ally Marotti 4:48 p.m. : As they adjust to a new normal , some colleges are approaching fall classes a different way : by starting early While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to push back the start of fall classes amid all the pandemic uncertainty , Notre Dame and Marquette universities are taking a different approach : They ’ re planning to open early .
The schools ’ plan — subject to change if health guidelines necessitate it — are also to reduce the length of fall breaks so that students wrap up classes for the year before Thanksgiving .
The changes are in response to concerns about a possible resurgence of COVID-19 in the late fall or winter , and the hope that condensing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus by curtailing student travel .
Read more here .
—Elyssa Cherney 4:28 p.m. : Niles home to most COVID-19 deaths among Cook County suburbs , majority reported in nursing homes , data shows The village of Niles has experienced the highest number of COVID-19 related deaths among Cook County suburbs , the latest data available from the Cook County Medical Examiner ’ s Office shows .
As of May 19 , the medical examiner had reported 74 COVID-19-related deaths in Niles since March 16 , making it the suburb with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , a review of the data shows .
Nearly three-fourths of the deaths reported in the village have occurred within Niles nursing homes , according to the Illinois Department of Public Health .
IDPH data shows that as of May 14 , 49 COVID-19-related deaths had been reported within six long-term care facilities in Niles .
These facilities reported a total of 236 confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
The highest number of deaths for a single facility — 21 — occurred at Niles Nursing and Rehab Center , which had 127 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 , according to the IDPH .
Read more here .
—Jennifer Johnson Even though the state ’ s rate of testing is at a new high and hospitalizations are at their lowest point this month , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker continued to preach patience Tuesday before Illinois moves onto its new phase of reopening the state at the end of the month .
Pritzker ’ s comments come as some mayors and law enforcement officers continue to say they won ’ t follow Pritzker ’ s plans to gradually reopen the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new rule to issue misdemeanor citations to those who refuse to follow public health guidelines .
“ We ’ re all itching to move ahead .
So why can ’ t we just do it now ?
” Pritzker said .
“ Well , there ’ s no doubt this is hard , but public health means that each of is working to protect all of us .
It ’ s about our collective impact on each other.
” Illinois transitioned into phase two of Pritzker ’ s reopening plan on May 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a handful of outdoor activities allowed as individuals are asked to wear face coverings when they can ’ t practice social distancing .
The governor acknowledged that the lives of many Illinoisans “ didn ’ t change much between phase one and phase two.
” Pritzker ’ s plan requires 28 days of monitoring public health data in four regions of the state before each can transition to phase three as soon as May 29 .
In that new phase , gatherings of 10 people or fewer would be allowed for any reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-on-one training and outdoor classes , barbershops and salons could reopen with restrictions as could manufacturing businesses , offices and retailers .
“ It ’ s critical that we observe the full 28 day measurement period before moving forward to phase three , ” Pritzker said .
“ The good news is we ’ re just 10 days from that point , and as of now , all four regions of Illinois are on track to moving forward into phase three before the end of May.
” —Bill Ruthhart The lawsuit , filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDonald ’ s failed to provide adequate personal protective equipment , allow for proper social distancing or notify employees when co-workers tested positive for COVID-19 at four restaurants across Chicago during the pandemic .
“ McDonald ’ s has failed to take adequate steps in response to the pandemic , ” the complaint alleges .
“ The damage done by inadequate safety practices is not confined to the walls of a restaurant , but instead has broader public health consequences for the Chicago community.
” Chicago-based McDonald ’ s issued an emailed statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … which do not represent the actual realities in our 14,000 restaurants around the country.
” Employees at the four Chicago McDonald ’ s restaurants , which include both franchise and corporate-owned locations , cited a number of examples in the lawsuit of “ dangerous conditions ” that allegedly risked spreading the disease to customers , co-workers and family members .
Read more here .
—Robert Channick 3:40 p.m. : South Elgin to cut residential and business water bills by $ 30 in June and July to help during pandemic South Elgin residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic relief in the form of a $ 60 break on water bills to help those who have taken a financial hit during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ This is what we do as a village .
... We are here to do the right thing for our people , '' Village President Steve Ward said .
`` I think this is a good thing .
Maybe they ’ ll remember it in a year from now.
” Read more here .
—Rafael Guerrero Orland Park officials say they will consider legal action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes more aggressive steps by June 1 to reopen Illinois ’ economy .
A resolution adopted Monday by the Village Board asks lawmakers , who are scheduled to meet Wednesday , to provide guidelines for the resumption of “ business and civic life with reasonable and specifically targeted public health guidelines.
” The village is projecting revenue from sources including sales taxes , motor fuel taxes and income taxes , to fall about $ 4.5 million during this budget year , which ends Dec. 31 .
“ The whole time we stay closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ It ’ s time for us to move to the next phase.
” Read more here .
—Mike Nolan 2:35 p.m. : Officials report 1,545 new known cases and 146 more deaths State officials on Tuesday announced 1,545 new known cases of the coronavirus in Illinois from among 18,443 tests over the previous 24 hours .
There were also 146 additional deaths reported , bringing the death toll to 4,379 since the pandemic began .
Statewide , there have been 98,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from a total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Single Chicagoans are turning to video dating in a big way during the coronavirus pandemic .
And geography is no longer a barrier .
She has had the pivotal “ Are we seeing each other exclusively ?
” conversation with a man she has never met face-to-face .
She has seen a close friend fall hard for an acquaintance of just three weeks — a man who happens to live in Scotland .
Welcome to the the upside-down world of video dating , where geography is no obstacle but the smallest physical intimacies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely off the table .
In the weeks since COVID-19 left Chicagoans largely homebound , dating via apps such as FaceTime and Skype has exploded , with OkCupid reporting a 470 % increase from March to April in the number of users who answered yes to the question , “ Have you been on a virtual date ?
” 1:59 p.m. : University employees call for more federal money for student financial aid and retain faculty during pandemic The union representing faculty at seven of Illinois ’ public universities is asking Congress to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the next stimulus bill , saying the funds are needed to increase financial aid for students and keep staff from being laid off .
In a letter sent to the Illinois delegation this month , University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 said financial progress made by colleges in Illinois following the 2008 recession and the three-year budget impasse is now being offset because of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ In the global economy and community , higher education degrees are more important now than ever ... , ” the letter says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Senate begin to discuss additional aid to address the harm from the Covid-19 pandemic , we are specifically asking for your strong advocacy to protect Illinois students and higher education institutions ( community colleges , state universities , and non-profit private institutions ) .
” The letter said lawmakers should create a “ state stabilization fund ” to prevent state budget cuts to higher education , enhance federal financial aid for students , allow universities to keep paying faculty through the Paycheck Protection Program and increase technological support for students who don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-speed internet .
`` At a time when there is massive unemployment , the federal government must invest in its citizens by helping them earn their education , their degrees and even their certifications , ” UPI president John Miller said in a virtual news conference Tuesday .
“ This will help the U.S. economy recover faster and will also create a greater economic stability and security in the years to come.
” The first stimulus bill , known as the CARES act , set aside $ 14 billion for colleges , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on its enrollment and the number of low-income students it serves .
Half of the money was required to be used as emergency financial aid grants for students .
Miller said students need more support and that federal financial aid should be made available to part-time students , not just those taking a full course load .
A second relief package passed by the U.S. House is being negotiated in the Senate .
—Elyssa Cherney 1:20 p.m. : Can Chicago ’ s food halls survive the pandemic ?
Owners and chefs consider the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ format .
When Hayden Hall opened in February , it was simply the latest food hall in a city increasingly saturated with them .
Every few months , some impeccably designed project opened promising a collection of top-notch chefs , from Time Out Market Chicago in the West Loop to Wells Street Market in the Loop .
Some were even getting national attention .
On Feb. 26 , Margaret Pak ’ s Thattu in Politan Row was selected as a semifinalist for best new restaurant in the country by the James Beard Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public ’ s insatiable appetite for food halls looked like it would never end .
For developers , the format was an easy way to attract crowds to downtown projects .
And for restaurateurs , whether aspiring or established , it was an affordable way to test new ideas .
“ I ’ ve never felt so ill prepared to answer such a big question , ” says Bruce Finkelman , managing partner of 16″ on Center , which runs Revival Food Hall in the Loop .
Finkelman says he ’ s been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s heartbreaking the amount of people we had to furlough , ” says Finkelman .
“ I ’ ve been worried about how we pay rent .
Do we have a workforce when this whole thing is over ?
It ’ s really hard to look at the bigger picture right now.
” It doesn ’ t appear that food halls in Chicago will be able to open any time soon .
According to Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s five-phase reopening plan , restaurants will be able to reopen their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phase four .
( Currently , we are in phase two . )
But food halls , which depend on attracting large crowds , probably won ’ t be able to fully reopen until phase five .
And as the governor ’ s plan details , phase five won ’ t happen until a vaccine or some other effective treatment is widely available .
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , estimates it will take a year or more to develop a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant in Chicago ’ s Gold Coast closing for good due to coronavirus shutdown The coronavirus outbreak has contributed to the closing of Ditka ’ s restaurant on Chicago ’ s Gold Coast .
Ditka ’ s Restaurant Group announced Monday that it will permanently close the downtown location because of the ongoing economic impact of the outbreak and the impending end of its lease .
The memorabilia-filled eatery , which opened in 1997 , was frequently visited by former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka and other celebrities .
Read more here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims negligence in coronavirus-related death of resident at Bria of Geneva nursing home The family of a woman who died with the coronavirus at a nursing home in Geneva filed a lawsuit Monday , alleging that the facility left its residents vulnerable by failing to follow basic precautions against the spread of the disease .
Bria of Geneva officials disputed the allegations , reporting that most of those who had COVID-19 there never showed any symptoms from a “ silent enemy.
” Read more here .
—Robert McCoppin 6:38 a.m. : 25th case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 A 25th Cook County Court clerk ’ s office employee has been found to have COVID-19 , the office announced late Monday .
The employee , who works in the clerk ’ s accounting department at the Daley Center , 50 W. Washington St. , Room 1005 , last was at work May 14 , according to a news release .
The employee , whose age , sex and length of employment weren ’ t released , has been hospitalized , according to the release .
So far , 24 people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have tested positive for the coronavirus and a 25th tested positive for coronavirus antibodies .
Other workers who came in close contact with the employee have been notified and told to isolate for two weeks , according to the release .
The clerk ’ s office and MB Real Estate were deep-cleaning the area where the employee worked .
— Chicago Tribune staff 6 a.m. : Mayor Lori Lightfoot ’ s first year in office was filled with big moments and tough decisions .
Then the coronavirus ‘ changed everything.
’ During her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Lori Lightfoot fired the police superintendent , presided over a 11-day teachers strike and fought to strip aldermen of powers in their wards .
But with more than 37,000 known COVID-19 cases in Chicago and about 1,700 deaths to date , Lightfoot ’ s first term will be defined by her response to a deadly challenge unlike any faced by her predecessors in a century .
In addition to the pandemic ’ s public health consequences , the ongoing crisis will have deep ramifications on city government potentially for years to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention from other pressing issues .
Lightfoot has earned acclaim for taking tough actions to curb the disease , such as shutting down Chicago ’ s iconic lakefront , but she will soon make life-or-death decisions on how to reopen the city ’ s economy — a task she ’ s compared with rebuilding after the Great Chicago Fire .
During a wide-ranging interview in Lightfoot ’ s City Hall office to mark the anniversary of her becoming Chicago ’ s first black woman and openly gay mayor , she told the Tribune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our lives will be defined by the moments that we ’ re living right now , ” Lightfoot said .
Read more here .
—Gregory Pratt and John Byrne Here are five things that happened Monday that you need to know :

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)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday afternoon that Illinois has passed New York in per capita daily administration of COVID-19 tests, which he called “significant measurable progress.”
“Among the most populous states, Illinois has now overtaken New York as the No. 1 state in the nation for per capita testing over the last seven days,” Pritzker said, calling it “very exciting news.”
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Among all states, Illinois ranks No. 3 in per capita testing, behind Rhode Island and New Mexico, according to data cited by the governor’s office at covidtracking.com. New York ranks sixth behind Connecticut and North Dakota, according to the data.
Pritzker also said all four regions of the state remained on track to enter the next phase of reopening businesses on May 29.
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State officials announced 1,545 new known cases of the coronavirus from among 18,443 tests over the previous 24 hours. There were also 146 additional deaths reported, bringing the death toll to 4,379 since the pandemic began. Statewide, there have been 98,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from a total of 621,684 tests.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that Illinois led the nation in per capita daily COVID-19 tests. Illinois ranks No. 3 nationally in per capita testing, and leads the nation’s most populous states after passing New York.
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
[ How will Illinois reopen? Three charts breaking down Pritzker’s plan ]
[ As the coronavirus spreads, the Tribune is tracking Illinois cases here ]
Here’s what’s happening Tuesday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
8:57 p.m.: Rent relief in Illinois could be on its way, as state legislators rush to pass bills during three-day session
Measures for statewide rent relief — which would include help for tenants, landlords and homeowners impacted by the coronavirus pandemic — could hit Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk in a matter of days.
If signed into law, the COVID-19 Emergency and Economic Recovery Renter and Homeowner Protection Act, which Chicago Democrat Rep. Delia Ramirez introduced Friday, would cancel rent debt and suspend mortgage payments for those experiencing hardships related to COVID-19.
“We have to make housing an absolute top priority during this special session in Springfield,” Ramirez said during a livestreamed press conference Tuesday. “If we want our families to be able to get through this pandemic, they have to have a roof over their head and not have to decide if they’re going to purchase food — or pay rent.” Read more here. — Ariel Cheung
7:50 p.m.: Naperville Park District files suit against Pritzker, wants judge to give the park board authority to reopen facilities
The Naperville Park District filed a lawsuit Tuesday asking a DuPage County judge to issue an emergency ruling that would allow the park board — and not the governor — to decide when park facilities should reopen and programs resume as the coronavirus pandemic begins to recede in the city.
Board members voted 4-3 vote last week to challenge Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s decision that Naperville be included in a phased-in reopening schedule for a region that also includes Chicago and Cook County.
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The complaint seeks a temporary restraining order, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief and declaratory judgment against Pritzker to “restore the balance of power and local accountability.”
“Unfortunately, in implementing (the stay-at-home order), Governor Pritzker does not always respect the limits of his power over units of local government like the Naperville Park District,” the lawsuit said.
“Rather, without any statutory authority in the (Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act) for doing so, Governor Pritzker has wrongfully displaced units of local government from their essential functions and is preventing them from addressing the specific health concerns of their respective communities.”
Priztker’s executive order directing people to stay at home prevents the Naperville Park Board from determining essential governmental functions by depriving it of the right to have jurisdiction over its property and programs, the suit said.
Pritzker’s order also stops park staff from performing “essential governmental functions" and prohibits residents from accessing park facilities and programs “that would otherwise be provided by the park district to combat this multifaceted health crisis,” the suit said.
The park district is suffering “irreparable harm” from the executive order being in place, the lawsuit charged. Read more here. —Erin Hegarty
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6:55 p.m.: Game on? National federation releases guidelines for return of high school sports
It’s a start.
The National Federation of State High School Associations released guidance Tuesday for its 51-member associations to follow while considering how to reopen athletics and activities.
The document was developed by the federation’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee in response to the coronavirus pandemic that has shut down the country, including the boys basketball state tournaments and the entire spring sports state tournaments administered by the Illinois High School Association.
The NFHS plan outlines three specific phases and defines sports as lower risk, moderate risk and higher risk. Tiers are created for essential, preferred and nonessential personnel allowed at events.
“We believe this guidance document will be a tremendous resource for our member state associations as they determine the timetables for reopening sports and activities,” said Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS executive director.
The NFHS noted the reopening of high school sports will come on a local and regional basis. Each state will be different, and likewise, each sport will be different.
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Individual cross country, golf, individual swimming and certain individual events in track are considered lower risk. Basketball, baseball, gymnastics, hockey, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, water polo, swimming relays, 7-on-7 football and the pole vault, high jump and long jump are moderate risk.
Football, lacrosse and wrestling are considered higher risk.
Baseball, gymnastics, softball, tennis, volleyball and the pole vault, high jump and long jump could be potentially considered lower risk with “appropriate cleaning of equipment and use of masks by participants.” Read more here.
6:52 p.m.: How Aurora-area police departments are handling enforcement of governor’s stay-at-home order
While the sheriffs of Kane and Kendall counties made announcements late last week that they will not enforce the governor’s stay-at-home and social distancing orders, not all local police departments have been as vocal about their enforcement policies.
In their announcements, Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain and Kendall County Sheriff Dwight Baird said they will not fine or arrest people for gathering in large groups, like hosting a graduation party or wedding celebration during the coronavirus pandemic.
While not all local police departments have said they are not enforcing the governor’s order, they are aiming for voluntary compliance and, rather than arrest residents, would rather educate them on how to stop the spread of COVID-19.
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Aurora police spokesman Paris Lewbel said the department is enforcing the governor’s executive order, but no one in Aurora has faced criminal charges. The department is continuing to focus on educating residents and encouraging people to practice social distancing, he said.
Officers can use enforcement as a last resort and in extreme circumstances of non-compliance, Lewbel said.
Aurora’s City Council passed an ordinance that gives the police department the right to charge violators of the governor’s orders with disorderly conduct, but not all cities have taken that step. Read more here. —Megan Jones
6:10 p.m.: 2nd lawsuit filed against Bria of Geneva nursing home
A second lawsuit against Bria of Geneva nursing home was filed Tuesday, claiming the facility failed to implement basic precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus after a number of its residents died from COVID-19 complications, attorneys said.
The family of Lucille “Lucy” James, a resident at the nursing home in Geneva who died of COVID-19 May 1, is suing the long-term care facility, claiming it failed to comply with preventative directions of the Illinois Department of Public Health and did not prevent the spread of the virus.
Bria of Geneva officials dispute the allegations brought against the facility.
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James’ son-in-law Ed Borowiak said the family did not find out she had coronavirus until after her death. James, 80, lived at the nursing home for about three-and-a-half years.
The lawsuit accuses the facility of failing to provide personal protective equipment and sufficient testing kits for residents and staff. It also failed to implement continuous screening checks on residents and staff, such as temperature checks and using a checklist to identify symptomatic residents, the lawsuit states. Read more here. —Megan Jones
5:17 p.m.: Mariano’s parent Kroger will not seek repayment from workers it overpaid during COVID-19 outbreak
Mariano’s parent company, Kroger, will not seek repayment from employees the grocery chain overpaid for time they took off to self-quarantine.
When the coronavirus pandemic started spreading through the U.S., Kroger began offering paid time off to employees who needed to self-isolate, were experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who needed time off for another virus-related reason.
Dozens of employees at Chicago-area Mariano’s stores that had taken the paid time off recently received letters from Kroger notifying them that they had been overpaid and would need to pay the money back, said Zach Koutsky, spokesman for Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
Local 881 represents more than 34,000 grocery store, drugstore and food production workers in Illinois and northwest Indiana.
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Outrage erupted on Twitter after a user posted a screenshot Monday of a letter from Kroger telling an employee to return overpaid funds. Kroger spokeswoman Kristal Howard said Tuesday in a statement that the company would not seek repayment.
“We’ve instructed our payroll department to directly inform the small number of associates affected by the recent overpayments of Emergency Leave of Absence pay that we will not seek repayment,” she said. Read more here. —Ally Marotti
4:48 p.m.: As they adjust to a new normal, some colleges are approaching fall classes a different way: by starting early
While the impulse at some college campuses may be to push back the start of fall classes amid all the pandemic uncertainty, Notre Dame and Marquette universities are taking a different approach: They’re planning to open early.
The schools’ plan — subject to change if health guidelines necessitate it — are also to reduce the length of fall breaks so that students wrap up classes for the year before Thanksgiving.
The changes are in response to concerns about a possible resurgence of COVID-19 in the late fall or winter, and the hope that condensing the term could help limit the spread of the virus by curtailing student travel. Read more here. —Elyssa Cherney
4:28 p.m.: Niles home to most COVID-19 deaths among Cook County suburbs, majority reported in nursing homes, data shows
The village of Niles has experienced the highest number of COVID-19 related deaths among Cook County suburbs, the latest data available from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office shows.
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As of May 19, the medical examiner had reported 74 COVID-19-related deaths in Niles since March 16, making it the suburb with the largest number of deaths caused by the virus, a review of the data shows.
Nearly three-fourths of the deaths reported in the village have occurred within Niles nursing homes, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
IDPH data shows that as of May 14, 49 COVID-19-related deaths had been reported within six long-term care facilities in Niles. These facilities reported a total of 236 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The highest number of deaths for a single facility — 21 — occurred at Niles Nursing and Rehab Center, which had 127 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of May 15, according to the IDPH. Read more here. —Jennifer Johnson
4:10 p.m.: Pritzker offers some optimistic news, but continues to preach caution
Even though the state’s rate of testing is at a new high and hospitalizations are at their lowest point this month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker continued to preach patience Tuesday before Illinois moves onto its new phase of reopening the state at the end of the month.
Pritzker’s comments come as some mayors and law enforcement officers continue to say they won’t follow Pritzker’s plans to gradually reopen the state and after the governor recently instituted a new rule to issue misdemeanor citations to those who refuse to follow public health guidelines.
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“We’re all itching to move ahead. So why can’t we just do it now?” Pritzker said. “Well, there’s no doubt this is hard, but public health means that each of is working to protect all of us. It’s about our collective impact on each other.”
Illinois transitioned into phase two of Pritzker’s reopening plan on May 1, with non-essential businesses remaining closed and a handful of outdoor activities allowed as individuals are asked to wear face coverings when they can’t practice social distancing. The governor acknowledged that the lives of many Illinoisans “didn’t change much between phase one and phase two.”
Pritzker’s plan requires 28 days of monitoring public health data in four regions of the state before each can transition to phase three as soon as May 29. In that new phase, gatherings of 10 people or fewer would be allowed for any reason, fitness and health clubs could offer one-on-one training and outdoor classes, barbershops and salons could reopen with restrictions as could manufacturing businesses, offices and retailers.
“It’s critical that we observe the full 28 day measurement period before moving forward to phase three,” Pritzker said. “The good news is we’re just 10 days from that point, and as of now, all four regions of Illinois are on track to moving forward into phase three before the end of May.” —Bill Ruthhart
4:08 p.m.: Chicago McDonald’s workers file class-action lawsuit alleging COVID-19 failures put employees and customers at risk
Five Chicago McDonald’s workers filed a lawsuit seeking class-action status Tuesday alleging the restaurant chain’s “inadequate” COVID-19 protective measures endangered employees and customers.
The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges McDonald’s failed to provide adequate personal protective equipment, allow for proper social distancing or notify employees when co-workers tested positive for COVID-19 at four restaurants across Chicago during the pandemic.
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“McDonald’s has failed to take adequate steps in response to the pandemic,” the complaint alleges. “The damage done by inadequate safety practices is not confined to the walls of a restaurant, but instead has broader public health consequences for the Chicago community.”
Chicago-based McDonald’s issued an emailed statement Tuesday calling the allegations “inaccurate characterizations … which do not represent the actual realities in our 14,000 restaurants around the country.”
Employees at the four Chicago McDonald’s restaurants, which include both franchise and corporate-owned locations, cited a number of examples in the lawsuit of “dangerous conditions” that allegedly risked spreading the disease to customers, co-workers and family members. Read more here. —Robert Channick
3:40 p.m.: South Elgin to cut residential and business water bills by $30 in June and July to help during pandemic
South Elgin residents will be getting a small bit of economic relief in the form of a $60 break on water bills to help those who have taken a financial hit during the coronavirus pandemic.
The South Elgin Village Board voted unanimously Monday to authorize $30 credits on bills paid in June and July by renters, homeowners and business owners.
“This is what we do as a village. ... We are here to do the right thing for our people," Village President Steve Ward said. "I think this is a good thing. Maybe they’ll remember it in a year from now.” Read more here. —Rafael Guerrero
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3:05 p.m.: Orland Park threatens legal action if COVID-19 restrictions not loosened soon
Orland Park officials say they will consider legal action against the state unless the General Assembly takes more aggressive steps by June 1 to reopen Illinois’ economy.
A resolution adopted Monday by the Village Board asks lawmakers, who are scheduled to meet Wednesday, to provide guidelines for the resumption of “business and civic life with reasonable and specifically targeted public health guidelines.”
Mayor Keith Pekau said that stay-at-home restrictions have “come at great cost to the economy” statewide and locally.
The village is projecting revenue from sources including sales taxes, motor fuel taxes and income taxes, to fall about $4.5 million during this budget year, which ends Dec. 31.
Orland Park is also furloughing about 140 part-time employees because of the anticipated revenue drop.
“The whole time we stay closed we continue to damage our economy,” he said. “It’s time for us to move to the next phase.” Read more here. —Mike Nolan
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2:35 p.m.: Officials report 1,545 new known cases and 146 more deaths
State officials on Tuesday announced 1,545 new known cases of the coronavirus in Illinois from among 18,443 tests over the previous 24 hours. There were also 146 additional deaths reported, bringing the death toll to 4,379 since the pandemic began. Statewide, there have been 98,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from a total of 621,684 tests.
2:23 p.m.: Single Chicagoans are turning to video dating in a big way during the coronavirus pandemic. And geography is no longer a barrier.
Chicagoan Rachael Jimenez has gone on first dates without ever leaving her couch.
She has had the pivotal “Are we seeing each other exclusively?” conversation with a man she has never met face-to-face. She has seen a close friend fall hard for an acquaintance of just three weeks — a man who happens to live in Scotland.
“They are in love. It’s wild,” said Jimenez, 30. “Everything that can happen that’s bizarre is happening.”
Welcome to the the upside-down world of video dating, where geography is no obstacle but the smallest physical intimacies — holding hands, kissing — are completely off the table.
In the weeks since COVID-19 left Chicagoans largely homebound, dating via apps such as FaceTime and Skype has exploded, with OkCupid reporting a 470% increase from March to April in the number of users who answered yes to the question, “Have you been on a virtual date?”
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“Video dating has had a surge,” said Stefanie Groner, co-founder of the new Chicago matchmaking service Quarantine Bae.
“What other choice do people have?” Read more here. —Nara Schoenberg
1:59 p.m.: University employees call for more federal money for student financial aid and retain faculty during pandemic
The union representing faculty at seven of Illinois’ public universities is asking Congress to set aside more money for higher education in the next stimulus bill, saying the funds are needed to increase financial aid for students and keep staff from being laid off.
In a letter sent to the Illinois delegation this month, University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 said financial progress made by colleges in Illinois following the 2008 recession and the three-year budget impasse is now being offset because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“In the global economy and community, higher education degrees are more important now than ever ... ,” the letter says. “As the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate begin to discuss additional aid to address the harm from the Covid-19 pandemic, we are specifically asking for your strong advocacy to protect Illinois students and higher education institutions (community colleges, state universities, and non-profit private institutions).”
The letter said lawmakers should create a “state stabilization fund” to prevent state budget cuts to higher education, enhance federal financial aid for students, allow universities to keep paying faculty through the Paycheck Protection Program and increase technological support for students who don’t have access to computers or high-speed internet.
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"At a time when there is massive unemployment, the federal government must invest in its citizens by helping them earn their education, their degrees and even their certifications,” UPI president John Miller said in a virtual news conference Tuesday. “This will help the U.S. economy recover faster and will also create a greater economic stability and security in the years to come.”
The first stimulus bill, known as the CARES act, set aside $14 billion for colleges, with each able to receive an allocation based on its enrollment and the number of low-income students it serves. Half of the money was required to be used as emergency financial aid grants for students.
Miller said students need more support and that federal financial aid should be made available to part-time students, not just those taking a full course load. A second relief package passed by the U.S. House is being negotiated in the Senate. —Elyssa Cherney
1:20 p.m.: Can Chicago’s food halls survive the pandemic? Owners and chefs consider the future of what had been a hot format.
When Hayden Hall opened in February, it was simply the latest food hall in a city increasingly saturated with them. Every few months, some impeccably designed project opened promising a collection of top-notch chefs, from Time Out Market Chicago in the West Loop to Wells Street Market in the Loop. Some were even getting national attention. On Feb. 26, Margaret Pak’s Thattu in Politan Row was selected as a semifinalist for best new restaurant in the country by the James Beard Foundation.
With a few exceptions, the public’s insatiable appetite for food halls looked like it would never end. For developers, the format was an easy way to attract crowds to downtown projects. And for restaurateurs, whether aspiring or established, it was an affordable way to test new ideas.
But with all Illinois restaurant dining rooms closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the idea of stuffing hundreds of people together in one room sounding unsafe, will food halls be able to survive?
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“I’ve never felt so ill prepared to answer such a big question,” says Bruce Finkelman, managing partner of 16″ on Center, which runs Revival Food Hall in the Loop. Finkelman says he’s been focusing on the immediate issues. “It’s heartbreaking the amount of people we had to furlough,” says Finkelman. “I’ve been worried about how we pay rent. Do we have a workforce when this whole thing is over? It’s really hard to look at the bigger picture right now.”
It doesn’t appear that food halls in Chicago will be able to open any time soon. According to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s five-phase reopening plan, restaurants will be able to reopen their dining rooms with 50-person capacity limits in phase four. (Currently, we are in phase two.) But food halls, which depend on attracting large crowds, probably won’t be able to fully reopen until phase five. And as the governor’s plan details, phase five won’t happen until a vaccine or some other effective treatment is widely available. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, estimates it will take a year or more to develop a vaccine.
Will food halls be able to survive being closed that long? And will customers want to return to crowded spaces? Already, a few food halls in the works have pushed back their opening dates. Read more here. —Nick Kindelsperger and Ryan Ori
11 a.m.: Ditka’s restaurant in Chicago’s Gold Coast closing for good due to coronavirus shutdown
The coronavirus outbreak has contributed to the closing of Ditka’s restaurant on Chicago’s Gold Coast.
Ditka’s Restaurant Group announced Monday that it will permanently close the downtown location because of the ongoing economic impact of the outbreak and the impending end of its lease.
The memorabilia-filled eatery, which opened in 1997, was frequently visited by former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka and other celebrities. Read more here. —Associated Press
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9:45 a.m.: Lawsuit claims negligence in coronavirus-related death of resident at Bria of Geneva nursing home
The family of a woman who died with the coronavirus at a nursing home in Geneva filed a lawsuit Monday, alleging that the facility left its residents vulnerable by failing to follow basic precautions against the spread of the disease.
Bria of Geneva officials disputed the allegations, reporting that most of those who had COVID-19 there never showed any symptoms from a “silent enemy.” Read more here. —Robert McCoppin
6:38 a.m.: 25th case of Cook County Court clerk employee with COVID-19
A 25th Cook County Court clerk’s office employee has been found to have COVID-19, the office announced late Monday.
The employee, who works in the clerk’s accounting department at the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Room 1005, last was at work May 14, according to a news release. The employee, whose age, sex and length of employment weren’t released, has been hospitalized, according to the release.
So far, 24 people who work for the clerk’s office have tested positive for the coronavirus and a 25th tested positive for coronavirus antibodies.
Other workers who came in close contact with the employee have been notified and told to isolate for two weeks, according to the release. The clerk’s office and MB Real Estate were deep-cleaning the area where the employee worked. — Chicago Tribune staff
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6 a.m.: Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first year in office was filled with big moments and tough decisions. Then the coronavirus ‘changed everything.’
During her tumultuous first year in office, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot fired the police superintendent, presided over a 11-day teachers strike and fought to strip aldermen of powers in their wards.
But with more than 37,000 known COVID-19 cases in Chicago and about 1,700 deaths to date, Lightfoot’s first term will be defined by her response to a deadly challenge unlike any faced by her predecessors in a century.
In addition to the pandemic’s public health consequences, the ongoing crisis will have deep ramifications on city government potentially for years to come, exacerbating tremendous financial woes while diverting attention from other pressing issues.
Lightfoot has earned acclaim for taking tough actions to curb the disease, such as shutting down Chicago’s iconic lakefront, but she will soon make life-or-death decisions on how to reopen the city’s economy — a task she’s compared with rebuilding after the Great Chicago Fire.
During a wide-ranging interview in Lightfoot’s City Hall office to mark the anniversary of her becoming Chicago’s first black woman and openly gay mayor, she told the Tribune the pandemic “changed everything.”
“Our lives will be defined by the moments that we’re living right now,” Lightfoot said. Read more here. —Gregory Pratt and John Byrne
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Breaking coronavirus news Stay up to date with the latest information on coronavirus with our breaking news alerts.
May 18
Here are five things that happened Monday that you need to know:


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--12-year old Chicago boy shot and killed in Gary loved video games and gym class, family says

`` No one in that car was a target , ” Hamady said .
It was a random shooting into @ @ @ @ @ drove immediately toward the hospital when she was pulled over by police .
When she @ @ @ @ @ police assisted in the getting the car to the hospital , carrying Demetrius into the @ @ @

Family members of Demetrius Townsel Jr., the 12-year-old Chicago boy shot and killed Saturday night in Gary, remember him as a funny, happy boy who loved playing video games and aspired to be a basketball player.
“He was so happy. He was just a happy person,” Katherine Brown, Demetrius’ mother, said Tuesday.
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Brown was making funeral arrangements Tuesday for her young son as city officials prepared for a virtual press conference regarding public safety within the city.
Brown said her son was a sixth-grader who enjoyed his math and gym classes.
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“Everybody loved him. Everybody loved the twins,” Brown said.
Darius Townsel, Demetrius’ twin, was with him in the car at the time of the shooting, Brown said. The boys were visiting family in Gary and were with their cousins in the car when the shots range out. Darius tried to stop the bleeding as the driver headed for the hospital.
“He was trying to save his brother,” Brown said.
Darius said he is sad and angry about the shooting and he does not understand why it happened.
“Why did you have shoot? What did you have to do this for?” he asked. Darius said he is going to miss playing video games and basketball with his brother, and just giving him a brotherly hard time.
He wants those responsible held accountable.
“I want him to get what he deserves,” Darius said.
Mayor Jerome Prince and Police Chief Richard Ligon pledged just that Tuesday.
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Demetrius Townsel Jr., 12. (Photo courtesy of the Townsel Fa / HANDOUT)
Prince said as mayor of the city he has directed police officers to address and find the perpetrator. His administration has been working with police to help come up with a plan to reduce crime and provide police with the equipment and resources they need to properly police the city.
“I want to make it perfectly clear incidents like this make no sense. These incidents will not be tolerated,” Prince said, adding police are working diligently to solve the crime.
Ligon said the department has at least five detectives and five patrol officers on Demetrius’ case.
“We know there will be a resolution to this,” Ligon said.
The chief said it will be important for the department to develop trust within the community so residents begin reporting crime and assisting police in solving crimes such as Demetrius’ shooting.
“We need your help, after that you’ll see the result — how this community can be safe,” Ligon said.
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Commander Jack Hamady said the shooting happened Saturday around 9 p.m. There were five individuals in the car including Demetrius when the shooting occurred in the 2600 block of Pierce Street. The driver of the vehicle was a 21-year-old female. The passengers were all under the age of 17.
"No one in that car was a target,” Hamady said. It was a random shooting into the vehicle. The driver drove immediately toward the hospital when she was pulled over by police. When she advised what had happened, police assisted in the getting the car to the hospital, carrying Demetrius into the emergency room.
Police have no suspects at the time and are looking for the public’s help solving the crime
Demetrius’ death was the 19th homicide in the city this year. The 20th and 21st homicide happened Tuesday morning.
The boys’ older brother Kordrale Summers, 17, of Chicago, saw Demetrius and Darius on Saturday morning before they headed to their aunt’s in Gary. The cousins were all very close and spent a lot of time together, he said.
“I’m gonna miss him coming in the house. I’m gonna miss him playing on the games,” Kordrale said. He would often find Demetrius up late at night playing games when he walked past his room.
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He said he told Demetrius he would not let anything happen to him. Now he is coping with his brother’s death.
“Why would you just shoot at the car. Why would you shoot at all? Why?,” he asked.
Demetrius is survived by his mother Katherine Brown, father Demetrius Townsel Sr., his twin brother, Darius Townsel, brothers Kordrale Summers and Kevin Brown and sisters Sarah Brown, 28, Seana Brown, 24, Jimmekia Fox, 22.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Second lawsuit filed against Bria of Geneva nursing home over coronavirus-related death

“ Their outbreak has been one of the worst in the state , ” Lenert said .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ families who were kept in the dark and didn ’ t even know their loved @ @ @ @ @ they received a call from the coroner ’ s office or a funeral director .
@

A second lawsuit against Bria of Geneva nursing home was filed Tuesday, claiming the facility failed to implement basic precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus after a number of its residents died from COVID-19 complications, attorneys said.
The family of Lucille “Lucy” James, a resident at the nursing home in Geneva who died of COVID-19 May 1, is suing the long-term care facility, claiming it failed to comply with preventative directions of the Illinois Department of Public Health and did not prevent the spread of the virus.
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Bria of Geneva officials dispute the allegations brought against the facility.
James’ son-in-law Ed Borowiak said the family did not find out she had coronavirus until after her death. James, 80, lived at the nursing home for about three-and-a-half years.
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The lawsuit accuses the facility of failing to provide personal protective equipment and sufficient testing kits for residents and staff. It also failed to implement continuous screening checks on residents and staff, such as temperature checks and using a checklist to identify symptomatic residents, the lawsuit states.
The suit, filed in Kane County Circuit Court, also says James’ health rapidly deteriorated after she was not isolated or tested after having symptoms of COVID-19.
She began exhibiting symptoms of an upper respiratory infection in March, the lawsuit states. A nurse emailed James’ daughter April 1, stating that James had a chest x-ray that showed pneumonia and she had a cough, according to the lawsuit.
Despite the symptoms, James was not isolated nor tested right away for COVID-19 as requested by her family, the lawsuit claims.
“When she was finally tested, she was pretty much unresponsive," James’ daughter Donna James said.
After the first case of coronavirus was confirmed on April 17 at the facility, the nursing home did not receive testing kits until April 23 or 24, the lawsuit states.
A similar lawsuit was filed Monday by the family of Helen Osucha, who died on April 26 at Bria of Geneva.
There were 122 cases of coronavirus reported at the home as of Friday and 22 deaths.
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Attorney Michael Lenert, who is representing both the Osucha and James families in the lawsuits, said he expects additional lawsuits against Bria.
“Their outbreak has been one of the worst in the state,” Lenert said. “We’ve been contacted by numerous families who were kept in the dark and didn’t even know their loved one had the virus until they received a call from the coroner’s office or a funeral director.”
In a statement Tuesday, Bria of Geneva officials disputed the allegations in the lawsuits, saying they continued to follow public health department guidelines as they continuously evolved and as more information about the coronavirus was learned.
Testing was not immediately accessible, allowing a high number of asymptomatic carriers to create a “silent enemy impossible to detect and difficult to defeat,” a facility spokesperson said.
“These form the backdrop of why the state of Illinois has granted immunity to health care providers for injuries stemming from the diagnosis, transmission and treatment of COVID-19,” the spokesperson said.
As of Monday, more than 50 residents and 33 staff have recovered from the virus or remain asymptomatic after testing positive, Bria of Geneva officials said.
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mejones@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Niles home to most COVID-19 deaths among Cook County suburbs, majority reported in nursing homes, da

Niles home to most COVID-19 deaths among Cook County suburbs, majority reported in nursing homes, data shows

“ We have been available to them whenever they needed us to be , ” Przybylo said .
He acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ not have a department of public health , it is limited in what it can @ @ @ @ @ of the virus within long-term care facilities .

The village of Niles has experienced the highest number of COVID-19 related deaths among Cook County suburbs, the latest data available from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office shows.
As of May 19, the medical examiner had reported 74 COVID-19-related deaths in Niles since March 16, making it the suburb with the largest number of deaths caused by the virus, a review of the data shows.
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Nearly three-fourths of the deaths reported in the village have occurred within Niles nursing homes, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
IDPH data shows that as of May 15, 49 COVID-19-related deaths had been reported within six long-term care facilities in Niles. These facilities reported a total of 236 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
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The highest number of deaths for a single facility — 21 — occurred at Niles Nursing and Rehab Center, which had 127 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of May 15, according to the IDPH.
Messages left last week with an administrator of Niles Nursing and Rehab were not returned.
Niles Village President Andrew Przybylo said the village has been “completely in support of the governor’s initiatives” to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and has provided nursing facilities with personal protective equipment donated to the village by various companies.
Przybylo said he has not heard of any Niles nursing facilities experiencing shortages of this equipment.
“We have been available to them whenever they needed us to be,” Przybylo said. He acknowledged that because the village does not have a department of public health, it is limited in what it can do to stop the spread of the virus within long-term care facilities.
The Cook County suburb with the second highest number of COVID-19-related deaths is south suburban Oak Lawn, which reported 65 as of May 19, according to the medical examiner’s data. Greater Des Plaines, which includes cases within unincorporated areas with Des Plaines addresses, had experienced 63 deaths related to COVID-19 since March 16, the data shows.
As of May 19, greater Des Plaines continued to have the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among area suburbs, followed by Skokie and Niles, according to data from the Cook County and Skokie Departments of Public Health.
The Cook County suburb with the largest number of COVID-19 cases is Cicero, which reported 2,158 as of May 19, according to Cook County health department data.
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The following shows the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 related deaths reported by the Cook County Medical Examiner within 17 North and West suburban Cook County communities in the Pioneer Press coverage area as of May 19. The data also includes a comparison to the number of cases and deaths reported a week earlier on May 12.
• Des Plaines: 1,199, up from 1,054; 63 deaths
• Skokie: 698, up from 592 (as of May 18); 22 deaths
• Niles: 610, up from 535; 74 deaths.
• Evanston: 579, up from 499; 30 deaths.
• Glenview: 397, up from 343; 27 deaths
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• Elmwood Park: 324, up from 286; 16 deaths.
• Franklin Park, 276, up from 223; 8 deaths.
• Oak Park: 249, up from 216 (as of May 18); 14 deaths
• Park Ridge: 248, up from 203; 28 deaths.
• Morton Grove: 224, up from 199; 10 deaths.
• Northlake: 186, up from 144; 3 deaths.
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• Norridge: 169, up from 152; 18 deaths.
• Lincolnwood: 136, up from 125; 22 deaths.
• Harwood Heights: 101, up from 91; 5 deaths.
• River Grove: 87, up from 70; 2 deaths.
• Rosemont: 41, up from 36; 0 deaths.
• River Forest: 37, up from 36; 0 deaths.
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Updated Cook County health department data can be found at ccdphcd.shinyapps.io/covid19.
jjohnson@chicagotribune.com
Twitter: @Jen_Tribune


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--The Spin: Speaker Madigan seeks to quash mask rebellion | Lightfoot looks back on first year as mayo

The Spin: Speaker Madigan seeks to quash mask rebellion | Lightfoot looks back on first year as mayor | Is it time for Chicago to open its lakefront?

`` After the motion passes , any member in violation of the rule change will face discipline , including potentially @ @ @ @ @ by a vote of the House .
This is not an action I take lightly @ @ @ @ @ to the health and safety of members , their families , staff and the communities @ @ @ @ @ the right and prudent thing to do , '' Madigan said in the statement .
@ @ @ @ @ the public not observing the rules will be asked to leave the premises immediately .
@

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said this afternoon that all four regions of the state are on pace to enter the next phase of reopening businesses on May 29.
Speaking of back to business, the General Assembly is scheduled to return to Springfield tomorrow, and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan is looking to squash any plans from a small group of Republican lawmakers in the chamber who’ve said they won’t wear facial coverings during the session.
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He’s proposing a rule that would compel lawmakers and their staffers to undergo temperature checks before entering the building and wear masks. Lawmakers who violate the order could be booted from the chamber.
Pritzker, who’s been self-isolating at his Gold Coast mansion after a top staffer was diagnosed with COVID-19, said today he’ll return to Springfield tomorrow as lawmakers kick of what’s expected to be a 3-day session.
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On the eve of her first anniversary since taking office, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and those around her take stock of the past 12 tumultuous months. As the Tribune’s Gregory Pratt and John Byrne note in a new piece, she’s expressed contempt for the sort of horse-trading common in politics. An ally says that’s sometimes made things more difficult than they need to be, while her critics complain that they don’t hear from her or staff as often as they’d like.
There is no question that the city’s response to the pandemic will define the entirety of her first term.
To that end, Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin writes that while the memes that arose from her “Stay Home, Save Lives” message since the outbreak of the pandemic have been “political gold,” it’s time to rethink the lakefront closure with the mercury and frustrations rising.
Welcome to The Spin.
House Speaker Mike Madigan answers questions from the media following a press conference Jan. 27, 2016, at the Illinois State Capitol House Chambers in Springfield, Ill. (Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune)
The legislature reconvenes tomorrow with the Senate at their usual digs in the statehouse and the house at the Bank of Springfield Center, in an effort to promote social distancing.
But Speaker Madigan wants to go one step further: Creating a rule that would require House members and their staffs to submit to temperature checks before entering the building and to wear masks while inside. He’ll propose it at the start of tomorrow’s session.
"After the motion passes, any member in violation of the rule change will face discipline, including potentially being removed from the chamber by a vote of the House. This is not an action I take lightly, but when it comes to the health and safety of members, their families, staff and the communities they represent, it is the right and prudent thing to do," Madigan said in the statement. “Staff and members of the public not observing the rules will be asked to leave the premises immediately."
On Monday, Pritzker lashed out at Republican lawmakers who said they would not follow public health guidelines and wear a face mask.
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“I hear that there are people planning to show up in Springfield in the legislature not wearing a mask. Think about what that says, right? Because a mask isn’t designed to protect you. It’s designed to protect the people you’re with,” Pritzker said, calling it a “callous disregard for people’s health.”
State Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, has been vowing not to wear a “silly mask” when the legislature reconvenes: He explained to Tribune columnist Eric Zorn,“Masks are a symbol of our loss of freedom.” Read Zorn’s full column here.
Pritzker: Testing is ramping up statewide putting all four regions on track to enter next phase of reopening businesses May 29 - During his daily briefing the governor said Illinois leads the nation in daily per capita testing, which he called “significant.”
“Illinois has now overtaken New York as the No. 1 state in the nation for per capita testing over the last seven days,” Pritzker said, calling it “very exciting news.” Read more here.
Winnebago County to reopen bars, restaurants, churches starting June 1: The Rockford Register Star has the details of the reopening here.
Orland Park threatens legal action if COVID-19 restrictions not loosened soon: The Daily Southtown’s Mike Nolan has the story here.
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Naperville Park District may take legal action to reopen parks and facilities on its own schedule: The Naperville Sun’s Erin Hegarty has the details here.
More COVID-19 news: Chicago aldermen, restaurateurs call for crackdown on delivery apps: Delivery fees and company practices are facing increased scrutiny as their business booms while restaurants struggle to keep operating during Chicago’s COVID-19 shutdown, the Tribune’s John Byrne writes. Read the story here.
Uber laying off another 3,000 workers, raising more questions about the company’s future in Chicago: Ally Marotti has the details here.
State Farm cuts auto rates by $2.2 billion as Americans continue to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic: The Bloomington-based firm is the nation’s largest underwriter of auto insurance, the Tribune’s Abdel Jimenez writes in a new piece here.
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot talks about her first year in office during an interview in her office May 15, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
The Tribune’s Pratt and Byrne write that “Lightfoot rode anti-City Council rhetoric to an unexpected landslide win. Her tough talk about cleaning up a body with a history of malfeasance endeared her to fed-up voters, especially during the run-up to the election when new allegations of public corruption came to light against Southwest Side Ald. Edward Burke, 14th, who was then Chicago’s most powerful council member.”
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Her call to curb aldermanic prerogative — which has given aldermen sway over projects in their wards but has been criticized as the path for some to corruption — has created something of an adversarial dynamic between the mayor and some members of City Council. And, yet, she hasn’t lost a vote on the City Council floor by appointing leaders who can help her shepherd legislation.
The critic: Southwest Side. Ald. Ray Lopez sees it as something of a power grab on Lightfoot’s part, saying, “We’re seeing this normalization of aldermen being shut out of the process by a person who said she was going to reform city government, to bring in the light, so to speak. But instead of moving forward, we’re seeing this monumental leap back in openness and collaboration.”
The ally: Northwest Side Ald. Gilbert Villegas, Lightfoot’s council floor leader, said that the mayor is open to debate, "bounces ideas off people, then makes a strong decision and sticks to it. I think if you look at what the public thinks about her performance over the past few months, dealing with a situation for which there’s really no rubric, they believe she has done a very good job showing the kind of leadership Chicago needs right now.”
The ally as critic: “I wish she would work more at some of the relationships,” Villegas said. "Sometimes members of her staff say, ‘The mayor’s not a politician.’ And I counter that when you run for mayor of Chicago and you win, you’d better become a politician.”
A cyclist moves around barriers set up to block access to the Lakefront Trail at 67th Street in Chicago on May 13, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
The Tribune’s Blair Kamin suggests to the mayor in an open letter that reopening the Lakefront Trail to allow essential workers who commute by bike to use the path, writing: “Have their employers certify them and let the cops who are standing guard at the entrances to the lakefront check them in.
"If that works, you could let in joggers, walkers and, perhaps, recreational bikers. Why not take a baby step toward reopening the lakefront with the essential workers who commute by bike?” Read Kamin’s piece here. The Chicago Tribune’s Editorial echoed similar sentiments here.
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Another idea, news outlets have been asking the mayor about for some time: “Not without reason, transportation activists and architects are calling for Chicago to follow the lead of other U.S. cities that have closed streets to vehicular traffic to make it easier for people to maintain social distancing while they exercise.”
Glimmer of hope?: Lightfoot told WMAQ-NBC 5 today that she plans on reopening “at some point this summer,” adding “sooner rather than later." Read or watch the story here.
With a new, stricter grading system — plus warmer weather — Cook County is now getting a D on social distancing: Read Hal Dardick’s piece in the Tribune here.
Cook County Forest Preserves boss urges residents to avoid gatherings on Memorial Day: “That is not something I ever expected to say,” Arnold Randall, the forest preserves’ general superintendent, said in a Monday news conference. “It goes against our entire history and all of our efforts every day to provide a place where people can access the outdoors in nature right here in Cook County. This is a testament to the importance of stopping the spread of this deadly disease.” Read Tribune reporter Alice Yin’s full story about it here.
With next month’s Pride Parade canceled, Lightfoot working with others to mark Pride Month: The city’s first openly gay mayor is talking with leaders in the LGBTQ community about some virtual programming to mark Pride Month, her politics team tells The Spin. Stay tuned.
Police stand near an exit of Lower Wacker Drive after sections of the road were flooded after heavy rain May 17, 2020 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
“Days of rain overwhelmed the main portion of Deep Tunnel, the region’s $3 billion system of cavernous tunnels and flood-control reservoirs,” my Tribune colleagues wrote yesterday.
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Even a flood-control reservoir 20 times bigger than Soldier Field and tied to the Deep Tunnel couldn’t handle the recent deluge.
So on Sunday afternoon, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, a separate governmental entity from the city and Cook County, “opened a Wilmette sluice gate, allowing a surge of sewage and runoff in the North Shore Channel to flow into Lake Michigan for the second time in as many days," my colleagues write. "Locks next to Navy Pier opened wide three hours later as district engineers attempted to draw down the Chicago River by sending it back on its once-natural course into the lake.”
Background: When construction began during the mid-1970s, officials billed the Deep Tunnel as an engineering marvel that would “bottle up rainstorms” — rerouting water from streets and homes — but environmental reporter Michael Hawthorne, who’s been writing about the still-incomplete project for years, says the McCook Reservoir won’t be fully operational until 2029.
Beyond Deep Tunnel: “The nonprofit Center for Neighborhood Technology is nudging government officials to change their focus with a program it calls RainReady, which combats flooding with building, plumbing and landscaping improvements that in some cases are coordinated with sewer upgrades,” Hawthorne wrote in a recent piece. While suburbs including Midlothian, Oak Park and Wilmette offer grants to help residents do some flood-proofing, an ambitious project slated to begin in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood has been delayed by City Hall. Read about it here.
Heavy rains force closing of streets and COVID-19 testing site in Markham: The Daily Southtown’s Mike Nolan has the details here.
City orders shutdown of controversial North Side shredding plant: It comes after Chicago fire crews were called to General Iron on Chicago’s Northwest Side after two explosions happened there, the Tribune’s Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas and Gregory Pratt report. “In a letter from buildings Commissioner Judith Frydland and fire Commissioner Richard Ford to General Iron Industries, the city wrote ‘the structural stability of the structures that were directly affected by the blasts is unknown.’” Read the story here.
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Twitter @byldonovan


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Chicago teacher for deaf and hard of hearing students surprised with Golden Apple educator award

“ At first it was just , ‘ Hey we ’ re all learning this together and we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ and get you hooked up , ’ ” McKenna .
“ Then as time went @ @ @ @ @ focusing more , for me , on their social-emotional well-being and their mental health , @ @ @ @ @ students , but I ’ ve had one-on-one conversations with the parents .
”

Colleen McKenna, who teaches deaf and hard of hearing students at Salmon P. Chase Elementary in Chicago, makes a video recording for her students. She has been named a winner of the prestigious Golden Apple award. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
Colleen McKenna thought she was logging into a routine meeting with fellow teachers at Salmon P. Chase Elementary School when suddenly her students and co-workers appeared on-screen signing “congratulations.”
That’s when the teacher of deaf and hard of hearing students realized she had received one of this year’s Golden Apple Awards for excellence in teaching.
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“I am still beside myself,” McKenna said.
She was selected from more than 730 nominees across the state. Traditionally, Golden Apple surprises winners in their classrooms, but this year they came up with creative ways to virtually inform recipients.
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In his years as president of Golden Apple, Alan Mather does not recall many awards going to teachers in deaf and hard of hearing classrooms. What really stood out to Mather was McKenna’s ability to connect with each one of her students.
“We also saw this sense of empowerment she builds, not only with her own students but also with their families — this embracing of being deaf and hard of hearing and how to advocate for themselves, while advancing their learning," Mather said.
Golden Apple award recipient Colleen McKenna makes a video recording of herself reading a book for her students. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
McKenna works with third- and fourth-grade students of all different academic levels, at all different times of the day. With learning moved online for the remainder of the school year, McKenna has worked closely with families to schedule class times and ensure every student is receiving the help they need.
“At first it was just, ‘Hey, we’re all learning this together, and we’re trying to get you technology and get you hooked up,’” McKenna said. “Then as time went on, it really started focusing more, for me, on their social-emotional well-being and their mental health, and not just for the students, but I’ve had one-on-one conversations with the parents.”
As an award winner, McKenna becomes a fellow of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators and will help train the next generation of teachers.
“It very important for me to be a part of this program now, to try to build the retention, especially in these cluster programs, especially in deaf education,” McKenna said. “I am hoping with this I can be for others what mentors were for me.”
McKenna has been a teacher for nearly 15 years and has spent the past four years at Chase Elementary in the Logan Square neighborhood.
During her time at Chase, McKenna has instituted a number of different programs to expand her students’ educational experience, including an accessible learning garden that allows the students to study health and nutrition in a hands-on environment.
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McKenna also created a sign language club at Chase to connect her students with the rest of the school.
"There are students who are deaf and hard of hearing in that program, and there are students that are hearing,” McKenna said. “And what I love is that when they’re in that program, nobody knows the difference.”
So far, Golden Apple has announced five other winners for the Excellence in Teaching award, including three more Chicago teachers — Paloma Salcedo of Brighton Park Elementary, Jenine Wehbeh of John B. Murphy Elementary and Mary Kovats of Carl Von Linne Elementary School — as well as Amanda Sipe of Westview Elementary School in downstate Canton and Gina Romer of Ulysses S. Grant Middle School in Springfield.
Natalie Fry, the principal of East Side Intermediate School in downstate Harrisburg, received one of this year’s Excellence in Leadership Awards.
In total there will be 10 teaching awards with more announcements to come this week.


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Mariano’s parent Kroger will not seek repayment from workers it overpaid during COVID-19 outbreak

Dozens of employees at Chicago-area Mariano ’ s stores that had taken the paid time off recently received letters from @ @ @ @ @ had been overpaid and would need to pay the money back , said Zach Koutsky @ @ @ @ @ of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union .
The employees should have received their @ @ @ @ @ received overtime pay , he said .

Mariano’s parent company, Kroger, will not seek repayment from employees the grocery chain overpaid for time they took off to self-quarantine.
When the coronavirus pandemic started spreading through the U.S., Kroger began offering paid time off to employees who needed to self-isolate, were experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who needed time off for another virus-related reason.
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Dozens of employees at Chicago-area Mariano’s stores who had taken the paid time off received letters recently from Kroger notifying them that they had been overpaid and would need to return the money, said Zach Koutsky, spokesman for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 881. The employees should have received their hourly rate, but mistakenly received overtime pay, he said.
Local 881 represents more than 34,000 grocery store, drugstore and food production workers in Illinois and northwest Indiana.
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Outrage erupted on Twitter after a user posted a screenshot Monday of a letter from Kroger telling an employee to return overpaid funds. Kroger spokeswoman Kristal Howard said Tuesday in a statement that the company would not seek to recover the funds.
“We’ve instructed our payroll department to directly inform the small number of associates affected by the recent overpayments of Emergency Leave of Absence pay that we will not seek repayment,” she said.
Howard declined to disclose how many employees received the letters.
In addition to the pandemic-related paid time off, Kroger paid essential workers an extra $2 an hour between March 29 and May 16. It extended the perk twice.
After the company faced backlash for ending that extra pay as the virus continues to spread and deaths mount, it announced one-time bonuses for essential workers — $400 for full-time employees and $200 for part-time workers.
Mariano’s parent company, Kroger, will not seek repayment from employees the grocery chain overpaid for time they took off to self-quarantine. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
amarotti@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @AllyMarotti


Corrections and clarifications

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· A story on Page 1 Tuesday about Chicago’s dramatic rains and flooding incorrectly stated that 11.39 inches was the annual rainfall. In fact, that figure is the May 18 average rainfall year-to-date.
· On Tuesday’s Weather page, the map legends about flooding of area rivers wrongly used advisory terms. The correct legend labels, from top to bottom on the map, are near flooding, minor flooding, moderate flooding and major flooding.
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· Kootenai County, Idaho, was misspelled in Heidi Stevens’ Page 1 column on Saturday about a Chicago couple getting married during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Tribune regrets the errors.
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Publishing information quickly and accurately is a central part of the Chicago Tribune’s news responsibility and a value shared in all our publications. Our editorial code of principles governs professional behavior and journalism standards. Everyone in our newsroom must agree to live up to this code of conduct. Download the file.
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chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Roads still flooded, rivers close to cresting as Chicago hits wettest May on record

In the city , part of Lower Wacker Drive , between Randolph and Harrison streets , was expected to be @ @ @ @ @ allow for pumping floodwaters out of the basement of Willis Tower and for the completion @ @ @ @ @ Lower Wacker , ” according to a release from the city ’ s Transportation Department @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , after electricity at the building was shut down because of the intense flooding @ @ @ @ @ the Chicago River to the highest levels in 60 years .

Roberto Acuna walks through a flooded street beside his home on Hawthorne Lane in Des Plaines after a huge amount of rain fell over the course of a couple days on May 20, 2020. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago passed the mark for the wettest May on record early Tuesday, as roads throughout the Chicago area remained flooded, especially near swollen rivers and creeks that were at or near cresting, according to forecasters.
With .11 inches of rain through 4 a.m. Tuesday, Chicago’s monthly rainfall total hit 8.30 inches, passing the record rainfall for May set in 2019, making three years in a row that the month has seen record rainfall, according to the National Weather Service. Tuesday was expected to be the last rainy day until the weekend.
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“Cloudy and cool conditions will give way to a warming/drying trend for the remainder of the workweek,” according to the weather service. “The warming continues into the holiday weekend, but may be accompanied by periods of thunderstorms.”
River flood warnings and other flood advisories peppered northeast Illinois Tuesday afternoon as waves subsided after reaching 4 to 7 feet, causing flooding along Lake Michigan.
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In the city, part of Lower Wacker Drive, between Randolph and Harrison streets, was expected to be closed through Saturday “to allow for pumping floodwaters out of the basement of Willis Tower and for the completion of concrete road work on Lower Wacker,” according to a release from the city’s Transportation Department. Willis Tower remained closed Tuesday, after electricity at the building was shut down because of the intense flooding since last week that sent the Chicago River to the highest levels in 60 years.
In a statement, David Moore, senior vice president of EQ Office said the Fire Department and ComEd continued to manage flooding on lower levels of the former Sears Tower. Water had been pumped out of the loading dock and lower level 2, and after lower level 3 was cleared, “we will be able to fully assess any impact,” the statement said.”
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District discharged water to minimize flooding Monday morning, the second time in a week the district has discharged water into Lake Michigan because of flooding.
River levels downtown were below flood stage Tuesday, but the North Branch of the Chicago River was still above flood stage from on the Northwest Side up to Deerfield, according to the weather service. Other area rivers were either at predicted cresting levels or close, with the worst flooding along the Des Plaines River, including in Des Plaines and Riverside, according to the weather service.
Three sites along the river have reached major flooding stages, said Brian Leatherwood, a weather service meteorologist. At one location near Algonquin Road in Des Plaines, the river reached more than 20 feet, more than 8 feet above flood stage, he said.
“Numerous residences could also be threatened along Big Bend Drive and Grove Avenue,” he added. River levels also reached well above flood stage farther north in Des Plaines and in Riverside, Leatherwood said. The flooding was expected to crest by midmorning Wednesday.
[ Unrelenting rains bring flooding across the Midwest, with evacuations in Michigan ]
Downstream from Des Plaines in River Grove, days of rain affected the sewer system and waterways had no time to recede, creating the “perfect storm," the village’s Fire Chief Sean Flynn said, with east and west sides of the village cut off from one another.
“It is impacting the whole town,” said River Grove Public Works Director Brock Leder. “At this point, we are two towns.”
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Those who live near the river’s banks still couldn’t leave their homes as of Tuesday, Flynn said.
Roads remained closed Tuesday afternoon across the area, including from First Avenue in Lyons and River Grove, Des Plaines River Road in River Grove, Schiller Park and Des Plaines, as well as 107th Street near U.S. Route 45 in Willow Springs and Southwest Highway near 143rd Street in Orland Park. For more road closures, check travelmidwest.com.
Check the Tribune’s weather page for more updated forecast information.
Pioneer Press’ Anna Kim contributed.
jvillagomez@chicagotribune.com
lford@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--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--2020-05-19--Tracking Illinois coronavirus: 4,379 deaths, 98,030 confirmed cases, 621,684 tests, 27% ICU beds and

Tracking Illinois coronavirus: 4,379 deaths, 98,030 confirmed cases, 621,684 tests, 27% ICU beds and 64% ventilators open

As the coronavirus spreads and local , state and national governments work to contain and mitigate the outbreak , the @ @ @ @ @ .

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--2020-05-19--Watch live: Gov. J.B. Pritzker and health officials provide an update on the coronavirus in Illinois

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker and state health officials are scheduled to provide an update on the coronavirus in Illinois at @ @ @ @ @ the latest coronavirus updates here .

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