chicagotribune--2020-10-20--COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood

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

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


chicagotribune--2020-10-20--Daily Illinois coronavirus graphs: 41 new deaths, 3,714 new confirmed cases and 59,077 new test resu

Daily Illinois coronavirus graphs: 41 new deaths, 3,714 new confirmed cases and 59,077 new test results

Illinois announced 3,714 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Tuesday for a total of 350,875 .
The state also announced 41 @ @ @ @ @ of 9,277 and 59,077 new test results for a total of 6.88 million .

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


chicagotribune--2020-10-20--Indiana adds 48 coronavirus deaths as hospitalizations grow; Lake County tops state with 146 new COV

Indiana adds 48 coronavirus deaths as hospitalizations grow; Lake County tops state with 146 new COVID-19 cases

Indiana ’ s total death toll has grown to 4,008 , including confirmed and presumed coronavirus infections , since the @ @ @ @ @ was reported in mid-March , according to the state health department .
That total is @ @ @ @ @ from what the state agency reported a month ago , with the updated total of @ @ @ @ @ making it the most in a single day since May .

State health officials on Tuesday added 48 coronavirus-related deaths to Indiana’s toll, which has growing faster over the past month along with new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.
Indiana’s total death toll has grown to 4,008, including confirmed and presumed coronavirus infections, since the state’s first death was reported in mid-March, according to the state health department. That total is an increase of 502 deaths from what the state agency reported a month ago, with the updated total of 31 coronavirus deaths on Friday making it the most in a single day since May.
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Several of Indiana’s coronavirus statistics have seen steep jumps since last month when Gov. Eric Holcomb lifted nearly all of Indiana’s coronavirus restrictions on businesses and crowd sizes.
Lake County again has reported the most new cases in the state with 146 new positives. Marion County, home to Indianapolis and more than 24,000 cases, reported 145, according to the state.
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Lake County, now with 13,220 cases, also reported three new deaths, bumping that total to 352, the second most in the state.
The Porter County Health Department on Tuesday reported at total of 2,955 cases and 50 deaths.
Holcomb has resisted calls to reimpose tougher restrictions in addition to the statewide mask mandate, but last week chastised those who don’t wear masks while out in public places.
The state health department’s daily update showed Indiana hospitals with 1,425 coronavirus patients as of Monday. Those hospitalizations are at the highest level since early May and are up almost 90% in the past month, as are the number of COVID-19 patients being treated in intensive care units.
Indiana’s seven-day rolling average of newly confirmed COVID-19 infections was reported at 1,802 as of Monday. That is the highest level the state has seen during the pandemic and has more than doubled since late September.


chicagotribune--2020-10-20--5 states added to Chicago’s travel quarantine order: ‘We all need to double down on COVID precaution

5 states added to Chicago’s travel quarantine order: ‘We all need to double down on COVID precautions’

Mayor Lori Lightfoot ’ s self-quarantine requirement was implemented during the Fourth of July weekend .
People who have spent @ @ @ @ @ the high-risk states are required to self-quarantine for 14 days after entering Chicago .
Though @ @ @ @ @ being enforced aside from signs and billboards telling people that they must self-quarantine , violators @ @ @ @ @ $ 100 to $ 500 per day , up to $ 7,000 .

Dick DeGray, of Brattleboro, Vt., puts on his mask before going into the Municipal Building, in Brattleboro, as the town started to require visitors and staff to put their masks back on Aug. 11, 2021, due to COVID-19 virus numbers increasing in Windham County. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer)
Five more states, including Ohio, were added to Chicago’s travel quarantine order while none were removed, city officials announced Tuesday.
Starting Friday, travelers heading from Colorado, Ohio, Delaware, West Virginia and Texas will be subject to the city’s two-week quarantine requirement, according to a news release. For the Lone Star state, this week will be the third time Chicago has added it to its travel order.
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Last week, the city placed Indiana on its list for the first time, ensuring all five states bordering Illinois are part of the order. A state gets placed on the list if it averages more than 15 new daily COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over a seven-day period.
[ Chicago’s travel quarantine list: Here’s what you need to know to avoid a large fine when returning from out of state ]
The 31 states and territories that will be covered by the order on Friday will be: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
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In the news release, the city warned that cases only decreased in six states over the past week — and Chicago and Illinois are part of a nationwide trend of places losing ground in combating the virus.
“Public health officials say this is a sign that we all need to double down on COVID precautions: wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently, practicing social distancing, limiting interaction with those not in your COVID ‘bubble’ and staying home if sick,” the news release said.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s self-quarantine requirement was implemented during the Fourth of July weekend. People who have spent more than 24 hours in the high-risk states are required to self-quarantine for 14 days after entering Chicago. Though the order is generally not being enforced aside from signs and billboards telling people that they must self-quarantine, violators are subject to fines of $100 to $500 per day, up to $7,000.
Exceptions to the self-quarantine order include essential workers, those traveling for medical treatment and those for whom “self-quarantine is not possible, practicable or advisable.” The order also does not apply to people who are at the airport for a connecting flight or are driving through the city on their way elsewhere.
People who commute across the Wisconsin and Indiana state lines to or from Chicago to work or go to school will be exempt from the quarantine rule. But for everyone else, “Chicago residents are strongly advised to not travel to these states,” the news release said.
ayin@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-10-20--Voters line up in Wisconsin as early in-person voting begins

With the coronavirus surging in Wisconsin , many people have been seeking alternate ways to vote than having to deal @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 3 .
As of Tuesday , more than 915,000 voters had returned absentee ballots @ @ @ @ @ of the total votes cast in the 2016 presidential election .

MADISON, Wis. — Voters across Wisconsin lined up Tuesday to cast their ballots on the first day of early in-person voting in the presidential battleground state.
The window to vote early and in-person will remain open for 11 days, until Nov. 1, and none of the ballots can be counted until after polls open at 7 a.m. on Election Day, which is Nov. 3.
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Locations and times to vote Tuesday varied across the state, but lines were reported shortly after polls opened in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and Sheboygan. Voters can also drop off completed absentee ballots at locations around the state, including in specially installed drop boxes in some larger cities.
With the coronavirus surging in Wisconsin, many people have been seeking alternate ways to vote than having to deal with crowded polling stations on Nov. 3. As of Tuesday, more than 915,000 voters had returned absentee ballots. That is 30% of the total votes cast in the 2016 presidential election.
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The campaigns of President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, were encouraging their supporters to vote early in Wisconsin, which Trump won by fewer than 23,000 votes four years ago. Trump held a rally in the southern Wisconsin community of Janesville on Saturday.
Madison residents Theola Carter, left, and Carrie Braxton fill out their ballots on the first day of in-person absentee voting in Wisconsin on Oct. 20, 2020. (John Hart / Wisconsin State Journal)
Biden said in a statement Tuesday that if voters can cast their ballots early, they should.
“You can be one of the first to move our country forward,” he said.
Wisconsin Democrats kicked off a “What’s at Stake” bus tour to encourage early voting, with stops planned Tuesday in Madison and Waukesha before hitting eight other cities through Sunday.
A coalition of local and national Black leaders, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Justin Blake, the uncle of Jacob Blake who was shot by Kenosha police in August, began a 33-mile march early Tuesday morning from Kenosha to Milwaukee. The rally was to mark the first day of early voting along with calls for justice against police violence, organizers said.
Republicans scheduled a virtual “Get Out the Early Vote” rally with their supporters. U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil planned to vote in Janesville as part of the GOP effort to encourage voting early.


chicagotribune--2020-10-20--Hamburger Mary’s latest Chicago restaurant closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic toll. Her

Hamburger Mary’s latest Chicago restaurant closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic toll. Here’s our running list.

Earlier this summer , changes to the OpenTable website for Kiki ’ s Bistro caused some confusion over whether or not the beloved River North spot had closed for good .
The restaurant shared a clarification that , for now , it would be open for business .
Sadly , however , Kiki ’ s website changed late last week , indicating that the restaurant will close permanently after the final day of service Sept. 30 .
“ We appreciate the birthdays , anniversaries , special occasions and everyday meals that you spent dining and laughing with us .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few months , as your visits did for those many years , ” read the post .
It wasn ’ t all bad news , though , mentioning that a small-time operation remains on the radar for Kiki ’ s founder Georges “ Kiki ” Cuisance : “ Kiki , 87 , is attempting retirement with an open eye for a potential petite Kiki ’ s — a tiny , cozy reboot with the potential to offer authentic French fare you love on a very intimate scale.
” See the full story here @ @ @ @

The statewide shutdown of restaurants and bars for on-premise service took effect March 16. Since then, several restaurants and bars have reopened for dining and drinking, as Chicago and the state have rolled out gradual reopening plans. But not all of them have made it.
This article lists bars and restaurants that have been forced to close due to the financial strain of COVID-19 regulations. Note that these closures are strictly finance-related and are not due to illness among any of the business’ staff.
We will update the list, sorted alphabetically, as needed.
NEW CLOSINGS
Lagunitas taproom likely won’t reopen in 2021
Lagunitas Brewing likely won’t reopen its Chicago taproom until at least 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the brewery’s chief marketing officer said Thursday. The taproom, which opened in 2014, is situated directly above the brewery, in the center of Lagunitas’ South Side building. Lagunitas CMO Paige Guzman said she’d “be surprised” if it reopened this year due to concerns about virus spread. The taproom has been closed since the pandemic took root in the U.S. in March. Lagunitas is among the first Chicago bars or restaurants to acknowledge a 2021 reopening as unlikely. See the full story here.
— Josh Noel
FULL RESTAURANT CLOSINGS LIST
25 Degrees
The downtown restaurant and bar did not mention the pandemic shutdown specifically, but a Facebook post announcing its closure noted that it was “due to our current situation.”
Arlington Cake Box Bakery
Chicagoland residents have been celebrating special occasions with the baking of Arlington Cake Box Bakery for 71 years, but the bakery announced in a Facebook post last week that it closed Sept. 20. “We are so grateful for the level of support you have shown us, not only in these unprecedented last six months, but also in the past 71 years,” read the post. The bakery first opened in 1949 and had been on its third generation as a family business.
Bad Hunter
The dining room at Bad Hunter is reflected in a mirror on the back wall. (Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune)
Bad Hunter — known for its vegetable-and-grains-forward menu — and its second-floor event venue, The Herbarium, closed for good because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The West Loop restaurant, which survived a fire and re-opened in 2019, was voted the Chicago restaurant with the best plant-based menu in the Chicago Tribune Readers’ Choice Dining Awards earlier this year. — Grace Wong
Band of Bohemia
Band of Bohemia, which announced in July that it was closing temporarily, first earned a Michelin star in 2016 and had retained it every year since through 2019. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Five-year-old Band of Bohemia, whose pioneering vision of brewing beer and serving creative, ambitious food was ultimately rewarded with a coveted Michelin star, is going out of business after filing for bankruptcy. The Ravenswood brewpub filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation Oct. 16 in the Northern District of Illinois. According to court records, Band of Bohemia is more than $1 million in debt. But in a statement Oct. 21, Band of Bohemia founders Michael Carroll and Craig Sindelar blamed the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic for the closure. The restaurant has been closed since July, when owners said it would be shuttering temporarily. See the full story here. — Josh Noel
Baobab BBQ
The barbecue spot, which used South African flavors to riff on traditional ‘cue, announced in May on its Facebook page that it would close permanently due to the effects of the shutdown, writing: “When a small business’s revenue is interrupted it is devastating; when it’s a restaurant, earth shattering best describes it.”
Bar Biscay
An array of "pintxos," popular small bites offered at Bar Biscay. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Bar Biscay, the restaurant that lit up West Town with coastal-Spain sunshine, has closed, for keeps, after a 2½-year run. Partner Scott Worsham said in a posting on Facebook that, “The time has come to say goodbye to our groovy, Atlantic-coast inspired French-Spanish-Basque funhouse, our Oasis of Joy. He blamed COVID-19 and “factors beyond our control.” See the full story here. — Phil Vettel
Bite Cafe
Noah Sandoval (Oriole, Kumiko/Kikko) will join with friend Bruce Finkelman, managing partner of the 16″ On Center restaurant group (Longman & Eagle, Dusek’s Board & Beer, Revival Food Hall), to create Pizza Friendly Pizza, opening later this summer in the Bite Cafe space. Finkelman said, “Once the quarantine hit, I realized that that type of restaurant wouldn’t be able to exist in the post-COVID culinary scene.” — Phil Vettel
Blackbird
Blackbird restaurant in Chicago on Monday June 29, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
The highest-profile Chicago restaurant victim of coronavirus to date has been Blackbird, closing for good after more than 22 years as one of the area’s finest restaurants. “We’ve labored long and hard over this decision,” said partner Paul Kahan. “But in an incredibly small, tight dining room — operating at only 25% capacity for who knows how long — and removing the opportunity to do private dining, it becomes incredibly difficult to manage.” — Phil Vettel
Blue Nose Brewery
Small southwest suburban Blue Nose Brewery has closed due to the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. Blue Nose co-founder Jordan Isenberg said he made the decision in late October 2020, after the state ordered suburban Cook County bars and restaurants to close for indoor business for a second time to stem the spread of COVID-19. He kept the decision largely to himself while winding down the business, he said. See the rest of the story here. — Josh Noel
Bonci (Wicker Park)
Three different options at Bonci (Arugula, dried tomatoes and bufala mozzarella) (zucchini, ricotta, lemon zest and black pepper) and (prosciutto and fior di latte mozzarella). (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)
The second Chicago location of the world famous pizzeria was located in Wicker Park, but Eater Chicago reported that Bonci’s director of U.S. operations said consolidating to one location (West Loop) was necessary in light of the pandemic.
Bonfire
The no-frills steakhouse in Homer Glen confirmed via Facebook message that it has closed for good due to the effects of the pandemic shutdown.
Bottled Blonde
Bottled Blonde has closed after years of legal drama. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
Bottled Blonde, the River North bar better known for its legal drama than pizza, closed permanently July 27, due to the coronavirus — but COVID-19 violations are not among the complaints against it. The business “surrendered their business licenses, permanently closing the River North bar after a series of serious nuisance conditions dating back to 2017,” according to a statement from the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. The bar had not received any citations related to COVID-19, wrote the department spokesperson.
The district manager of Bottled Blonde said, “It’s been an uphill battle since we came into this neighborhood. We had fights with the city, fights with the neighborhood. With the COVID thing, you need revenue to keep up those fights. We can’t stay open and operate at limited capacities.” See the full story here. — Louisa Chu
Boulangerie (Belmont Avenue)
La Boulangerie closed its location at 915 W. Belmont Ave. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)
The French bakery chain La Boulangerie has closed the Lakeview location on Belmont Avenue. The Logan Square and Ravenswood bakeries remain open, but for pickup and delivery only.
Bridgeport Coffee Co. (Loop)
The Chicago coffee roaster closed its Loop location in June, confirming the shuttering as a result of COVID in a blog post. Its other three in Bridgeport, Hyde Park and the South Loop remain open.
Cactus Bar & Grill
The Cactus Bar at 404 S. Wells St. in Chicago. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
The recent closure of Cactus Bar & Grill leaves the South Loop financial district without a 31-year-old standby. Cactus confirmed the closure with a note on its website, writing that they knew in the middle of August that the bar wouldn’t make it: “With few offices in the Loop occupied, and a challenging situation with our land lord, the crisis’s financial devastation became insurmountable.” The bar was a staple for lunches and drinks in the Loop.
Cafe Marie-Jeanne
The announcement that Cafe Marie-Jeanne will close drew lines outside the Humboldt Park restaurant Friday, Nov. 20, 2020. By Saturday, owners had to close early after running out of food. The wait Sunday was four hours. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Cafe Marie-Jeanne (1001 N. California Ave.), co-owned by the husband and wife team of Michael Simmons and Val Szafranski, announced Nov. 19 on Instagram that they would close permanently: “The string has run out for CMJ. We hung in as long as we could and it’s time to let go. Everything must end. WE WILL MISS YOU ALL!” Over the following weekend, fans flocked to the Humboldt Park restaurant known for its French-influenced dishes for one last taste. Lines stretched down the block, and Simmons had to shut down early Nov. 20 because he ran out of food. On that Saturday, the wait in line took four hours. The restaurant closed Nov. 23. See the full story here. — Nick Kindelsperger
Candyality
Candyality is known for its collection of retro candies, among hundreds of other confections.
Andersonville has one less spot to sate your sweet tooth, as Candyality has announced in a Facebook post that it will be closing its location in the neighborhood at the end of September. The closing comes “with great sadness” after spending more than 5 years in that space, the post reads. The Chicago-based candy store — which has also had locations in Wicker Park and Water Tower Place during the past several years — is still open at its Lakeview location, 3737 N. Southport Ave., and offers local delivery.
Cafe Cancale
The strawberry sundae with sea salt ice cream at Cafe Cancale. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
The One Off Hospitality property in Wicker Park was another casualty of the pandemic, closing at the same time as Blackbird.
California Clipper and coffee shop C.C. Ferns
Detail of the Vesper at California Clipper in 2017. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Both the Clipper and attached cafe C.C. Ferns shuttered permanently due to the COVID shutdown. However, there have been conflicting accounts between Hogsalt Hospitality owner Brendan Sodikoff and landlord Gino Battaglia as to how the fallout was navigated, according to reports from Eater Chicago and Block Club Chicago, respectively.
Chicago House Of ‘Za
The North Center spot for all-vegan pizza shared an Instagram post announcing its permanent closure, citing the financial effects of the pandemic shutdown as part of the reason: “With the current pandemic, as well as the enormous cost of operating a business in Chicago, we are unable to stay open for business any longer.”
City Mouse
City Mouse restaurant in the Ace Hotel opened in 2017. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
City Mouse, the Ace Hotel restaurant operated by the team behind Giant and Chef’s Special, is closing after three years. Sunday, Oct. 18, will be the last day, the restaurant announced Wednesday in a statement. Jason Vincent, one of the partners at Giant and Chef’s Special, declined further comment. Giant and Chef’s Special bar announced just Tuesday it was launching a food truck to get their creative cooking to a larger audience. The space is going to be occupied by the Alinea Group, starting in November; owner Nick Kokonas confirmed that Alinea has leased the space for a three-month residency, but offered no additional details. For more details, see the story here. — Phil Vettel
Conga’s
The Norwood Park restaurant, which also featured music and dancing, announced it would be closing on Facebook. The post read, “I’m deeply saddened to announce Congas Restaurant will not be opening again. Covid-19 made me realize the most important things in life.” Another post teased a return for the Congas name, but as more of a venue-esque space.
Danny’s Tavern
After rumors of a closure had persisted on social media for weeks, Danny’s Tavern has confirmed it closed permanently. The Bucktown dive was well-known for its dance floor and its popular party celebrating The Smiths. The closure comes five years after the bar nearly shuttered once before and ends the bar’s 34-year stay on Dickens Avenue.
Davanti Enoteca
Davanti Enoteca in Little Italy.
The Little Italy location of Davanti Enoteca has closed for good, and, according to a report from the Sun-Times, it appears finances were a factor: “A demand letter dated June 12 from the landlord ... said the establishment was nearly $60,000 behind on rent.” The letter was posted on the window of Francesca’s, a sister restaurant also owned by chef David Harris.
Ditka’s in Chicago
Mike Ditka lookalike Don, center, and his wife Marian Feuling eat during a birthday party dinner at Ditka's restaurant in 2019. (Camille Fine / Chicago Tribune)
The economic effects of the mandated shutdown were a contributing factor in the closure of Mike Ditka’s Chicago restaurant in May. Other locations remain open, including Ditka’s in suburban Oakbrook Terrace and Grill 89 in suburban Westmont.
Eden
People settle in for dinner at the restaurant called Eden, 1748 W. Lake St. in Chicago, on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Eden, a Cal-Mediterranean restaurant popular with pre- and post-event United Center crowd (among others), closed in mid-July after a run of just over 3½ years. Eden opened on west Lake Street in December 2016 and made friends quickly, both for its pretty, bright-white interiors and Devon Quinn’s skillful cooking. The owners said in a release that “While we recently reopened our doors to an immensely positive response, the larger economic impact resulting from the coronavirus pandemic has made it impossible for us to sustain operations.” Read the full story here. — Phil Vettel
Emerald City Coffee Shop (Sheridan)
The Emerald City Coffee Shop location on Sheridan Road closed permanently Oct. 31, according to a post on the cafe’s Instagram page: “The uncertainty of the pandemic and other financial stressors were too much to bear and we’re so, so bummed to see ECC Sheridan go, but it’s the tough choice we had to make.” Emerald City, which was also known for its breakfast burritos, occupied a noticeable space below the Sheridan Red Line stop for years and was a neighborhood favorite. The Emerald City Coffee in Uptown, at 1224 W. Wilson Ave., remains open.
A Go Fund Me campaign launched earlier to save the Sheridan location has been taken down. But a new Go Fund Me has been launched, this one to help laid-off baristas. “The purpose of this fundraiser is to help cushion the blow that our ECC Sheridan staff will experience in the coming days,” the campaign reads. It seeks $5,000 and by the afternoon of Nov. 4 had raised $2,100. — Adam Lukach
Fahlstrom’s Fresh Fish Market
Owner Glenn Fahlstrom confirmed that he would be closing the Lakeview seafood spot in an online post shared on the restaurant’s website and social media pages. The post, in part, read: “The new restaurant model is asking owners to put employees in harm’s way so that their business can possibly survive. That is an ‘acceptable risk’ I cannot take. The restaurant business as I know it is gone and will not return for years. It was hard enough when the playing field was supposedly level, now it is tilted beyond recognition. So, I am closing Fahlstrom’s Fresh Fish Market.”
Fat Rice / Super Fat Rice Mart
At the beginning of the pandemic shutdown, Fat Rice pivoted to become Super Fat Rice Mart, a market for meal kits and various grocery goods. Later, current and former Fat Rice employees went public with allegations of harassment and mistreatment by owner Abe Conlon, and the location has been closed ever since, with no public mention of a reopening date.
Fat Willy’s Rib Shack
Rib tips at Fat Willy's Rib Shack, 2416 W. Schubert Ave. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)
The North Side is losing another barbecue spot after Fat Willy’s Rib Shack announced Thursday evening that it will close Sept. 27. The Logan Square restaurant has been in the neighborhood for more than 19 years and has a loyal following of diners who go there for baby back ribs, pulled pork, brisket and mac and cheese. See the full story here. — Grace Wong
Finom Coffee
Cream and sugar station at Finom Coffee in the Old Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)
Finom Coffee — the popular two-year-old cafe in Old Irving Park known for serving Hungarian small plates, along with coffee, tea and baked goods, out of a snazzy art-deco storefront, has closed. Chef Rafa Esparza posted an upbeat message on Instagram: “It was a beautiful moment in time and the whole crew slayed from day one!” See the full story here. — Adam Lukach
Foodlife
The multi-station food concept located in Water Tower Place confirmed its closing in early June, although owner Lettuce Entertain You declined to comment exactly why. — Nick Kindelsperger
Fountainhead
Guests sit on the popular rooftop patio at Fountainhead in Ravenswood in this 2015 photo. (Lenny Gilmore / RedEye)
For the past 10 years, Fountainhead bar and restaurant has occupied the northeast corner of Damen and Montrose, one of Ravenswood’s essential intersections, bringing an enviable selection of whiskey and barrel-aged spirits to the neighborhood. In late September, the restaurant announced in social media posts that its run will come to an end Nov 14. “The past year has been difficult for everyone but pressures facing our industry at this time make it financially impossible to operate past the roof deck season. We made every effort to make adjustments to operate in this ‘new normal’ but with limitations restricting revenue and without funding to offset this condition it is impossible to continue,” read the post. Fountainhead owners are working with building ownership to find the “right concept” for the prominently situated storefront. Rhe Fountainhead Market — located next door — will remain there. — Adam Lukach
Francesca’s On Taylor
As with Taylor Street’s Davanti Enoteca — the two restaurants share ownership — the Italian restaurant in Little Italy has closed permanently, with reports indicating that rent-payment issues were at least partly to blame.
Gino’s East
The Gino’s East restaurant at 500 N. LaSalle St. has closed, a victim of a decline in business downtown, according to Jordan Himmel, chief information officer for Chicago-based Bravo Restaurants (which owns Gino’s East, Ed Debevic’s, Edwardo’s Pizza and Eduardo’s Enoteca.) The location closed in March, but other Chicago locations remain open.
Guthrie’s Tavern
Ron DeNicolo and his wife, Cynthia, take a photograph outside Guthrie's Tavern, 1300 W. Addison St., on July 21 in Chicago. DeNicolo said he and Cynthia had their first date at the bar 10 years ago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Guthrie’s Tavern, one of Chicago’s oldest and most popular neighborhood bars, announced it would be closing permanently, citing the city’s rollback of phase four rules for bars as a primary cause. Guthrie’s has occupied the corner of Addison Street and Lakewood Avenue for 34 years. It closed July 23. See the complete story here. — Adam Lukach
Habana Libre
Per a post on its website, Habana Libre closed permanently “due to the impact of coronavirus.” The Cuban restaurant had been in West Town since 2007.
Hamburger Mary’s
Hamburger Mary's opened on a key corner in Andersonville in 2006. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)
Andersonville’s Hamburger Mary’s — the only remaining city location of the nationwide network of independent franchises — announced Sunday on Facebook that it would be closing Nov. 1. Ownership listed the building for sale last year, and the lease ends at the end of December, but the coronavirus pandemic expedited the closing process, according to the post. The burger-focused restaurant, an outlet of the San Francisco-based chain, opened on a high-profile in Andersonville in June 2006, featuring drag shows, karaoke and bingo, along with the burgers. The closing announcement also teased ownership interest in reopening at another location: “We feel it’s best to wait until spring before we look for a possible new space.” The restaurant will host regular business hours until its final day of service Nov. 1. — Adam Lukach
Hot “G” Dog
Duck sausage, topped with lobes of foie gras and sea salt flakes, from Hot "G" Dog (5009 N. Clark St.). (Kevin Pang / Chicago Tribune)
Andersonville lost a hot-dog joint — at least the rest of 2020 — from the former Hot Doug’s chef with the closure of Hot “G” Dog. A Facebook post from the restaurant said its owners hope to return eventually, but the COVID shutdown had made business unsustainable for now.
Imperial Lamian
After more than four and a half years of serving rainbow-colored soup dumplings, roast duck and vegan spring rolls, Imperial Lamian is closing its doors in River North. The Chinese restaurant cited pandemic-related challenges as its reason for closing. Imperial Lamian, which opened in the spring of 2016, was lauded by the Chicago Tribune as having the best xiaolongbao (or XLB for short) in the city. Dozens of people expressed how much they would miss the restaurant in the comments section of the social media posts. See the full story here. — Grace Wong
Income Tax
Income Tax brought a much-needed wine bar to Edgewater, furthering the trend of easy-drinking, non-pretentious wine lists. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
Ownership for the laid-back Edgewater wine bar confirmed via email that the pandemic’s effect on Income Tax’s financials led to its closing. It had been open since 2016.
Jeri’s Grill
The diner on Western Avenue was a monument to greasy spoons of yore, open for 57 years and 24 hours a day, and was cut down by COVID-19, reported Block Club Chicago in May. “If there was no COVID, we’d be open,” owner Frank Di Piero told the publication.
Katana
Katana brought its robatayaki-style restaurant to the River North neighborhood in 2017. (Katana)
A spokesperson for the parent company of the River North sushi restaurant wrote in an email: “Yes, the COVID closure was a devastating financial hit for us and the reason behind our closure … The Chicago location was very special to us, and we were sad to close.”
Kiki’s Bistro
Diners raise a toast during a wine dinner at Kiki’s Bistro, 900 N. Franklin St., May 4, 2006. The restaurant announced it would close permanently at the end of September 2020. (Wes Pope / Chicago Tribune)
Earlier this summer, changes to the OpenTable website for Kiki’s Bistro caused some confusion over whether or not the beloved River North spot had closed for good. The restaurant shared a clarification that, for now, it would be open for business. Sadly, however, Kiki’s website changed late last week, indicating that the restaurant will close permanently after the final day of service Sept. 30. “We appreciate the birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions and everyday meals that you spent dining and laughing with us. Those memories have sustained us through the last few months, as your visits did for those many years,” read the post. It wasn’t all bad news, though, mentioning that a small-time operation remains on the radar for Kiki’s founder Georges “Kiki” Cuisance: “Kiki, 87, is attempting retirement with an open eye for a potential petite Kiki’s — a tiny, cozy reboot with the potential to offer authentic French fare you love on a very intimate scale.” See the full story here. — Adam Lukach
Kroll’s South Loop
One of the South Loop’s signature sports bars, Kroll’s South Loop, announced in a Facebook post that it would be closing its doors at the end of the summer. “We fought hard,” read the announcement. “The burden of operating under the current conditions is too great and, come fall, will be impossible to continue under the current indoor capacity restrictions of 50 patrons. … We do not know whether this closure will last until next spring or forever. Only time will tell.” Kroll’s will remain open for dinner service Thursdays through Sundays until it concludes its 15-year run at the end of summer.
La Buona Vita
La Buona Vita, a Northern Italian restaurant in downtown La Grange closed its doors after a six-year run. In a message posted on the restaurant’s now-defunct website, owner Jim Barron named COVID-19 as the proximate cause of his restaurant’s demise. — Phil Vettel
La Fontanella
The owners of the longtime Italian restaurant had already planned to sell the building and restaurant prior to the pandemic, according to Block Club Chicago.
Lawry’s The Prime Rib
Lawry's, known by generations of Chicagoans for its prime rib, steaks and lush steakhouse trappings inside a former mansion, will close after service Dec. 31, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Lawry’s The Prime Rib, which has been a fixture on Ontario Street (just west of Michigan Avenue) for 46 years, called it quits at the end of 2020. The coronavirus, last summer’s civil unrest and an expiring lease all contributed to the decision, said Ryan Wilson, CEO of Lawry’s Inc. “In a year of incredible turmoil, this is a tough one for sure,” he said. “But with the industry in general in such a state of flux, we felt we had to push the pause button,” he added, leaving room for Lawry’s to reopen. “I think there’s a future for Lawry’s in the Chicago area,” Wilson said. See the full story here. — Phil Vettel
Links Taproom
Links Taproom. (Leigh Loftus / ThinkLeigh Photography)
Michael Quinlan, owner of the Milwaukee Avenue beer bar in Wicker Park, wrote in an email that Links was planning to move out of its storefront at some point in 2020 due to an acrimonious relationship with its landlord. Due the the COVID-19 shutdown, he decided to pull the plug on Links in March. As of late July, Quinlan indicated that ownership is “going to wait until things stabilize until we make our next move.”
Mesa Urbana
The Mexican restaurant will be consolidating operations, closing its Glenview restaurant and moving everything to its location in Portage Park, per a note on its website. The note cited the “situation” from COVID-19 as the impetus for the decision.
Mity Nice Bar & Grill
Along with Foodlife, this Water Tower Place restaurant from Lettuce Entertain You closed in early June. Ownership declined to disclose specific reasons.
Monty Gaels Tavern & Grill
The Irish tavern in Ravenswood closed permanently due to the burden of the pandemic shutdown, ownership confirmed in a Facebook message.
Passerotto
Passerotto in Andersonville in July 2018.
The Andersonville restaurant announced over Labor Day weekend that it would be closing its doors permanently, in part due to the coronavirus pandemic. Passerotto’s last day is Sept. 12. Chef Jennifer Kim said the decision to close was a result of multiple conversations with staff and investors, and ultimately they decided that “operating a restaurant safely in the midst of multiple pandemics was going to negatively affect our community in the long run.” A pop-up project was also teased on the restaurant’s profile. See the full story here. — Grace Wong
Pepper Canister
The casual River North bar announced June 15 via Facebook it would be permanently closing, although it did not specifically reference the costs of shutting down for the pandemic as a reason.
Rainforest Cafe
Rainforest Cafe at the corner of Ohio and Clark Streets in Chicago on Thursday, August, 13, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
The Rainforest Cafe in the Near North neighborhood has closed sooner than expected after it shut down during the coronavirus pandemic. The restaurant at 605 N. Clark St. was expected to close within two years, when its lease expired. That timeline was accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic, which has left the Chicago restaurant closed since March, said building owner Sean Conlon. He recently negotiated an early termination of the lease with parent company Landry’s Restaurants. He plans to redevelop the site. See the full story here. — Ryan Ori
Ramen Misoya (Streeterville)
Tonkotsu ramen at Ramen Misoya. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)
The Loop lost one of its best bets for ramen in August with the closing of Ramen Misoya’s storefront in Streeterville. “Due to a loss in business caused by the Covid-19 shutdown, we can no longer justify continuing operations at this time,” read a post on its Facebook page. On the bright side, the Mount Prospect location of Misoya remains open.
Redmond’s Ale House
Remond’s Ale House has closed due to the financial stress of the COVIID-19 restrictions. The Wrigleyville bar, which had been at the corner of Sheffield and Roscoe for years, was known for offering an abundance of drink deals and for being an area staple for game-watching due to plenty of TVs and good sightlines.
Rickshaw Republic
Owners confirmed via email that the state’s COVID-19 shutdown caused financial losses that required the Indonesian restaurant in Lincoln Park to permanently close.
Ronny’s Steakhouse
Ronny’s, a cafeteria-style “steakhouse” that had occupied two separate downtown corners for years, announced plans to close due to the coronavirus in a Facebook announcement over Labor Day weekend. “We won’t say ‘good bye’ but rather ‘until we meet again,’” read the post. The Loop staple began 63 years ago at the corner of State and Randolph and, in recent years, operated at the corner of Clark and Lake.
La Sardine
La Sardine's terrine de foie gras featured layers of creamy foie gras mixed with thinly sliced black truffle, drizzled with a tart and slightly sweet cherry sauce and crowned with slices of extra buttery brioche. (Nick Kindelsperger/Chicago Tribune)
La Sardine, which has been a fixture in the West Loop for nearly 22 years, has closed for good. “It’s sad,” said partner and executive chef Oliver Poilevey about closing La Sardine, founded by his parents, along with Le Bouchon in Bucktown. “A month, month-and-a-half ago, I thought we were going to make it.” La Sardine has no outdoor space in which to set up tables, but had eked by with meals-to-go and, eventually, indoor dining with the 25% capacity limitation. Then the weather turned warm and the unthinkable happened: The air conditioning broke down. Looking at $80,000 in repairs, Poilevey knew he could not risk taking on the cost. “There’s no way we could pay for that, heading into the fall with no rent abatement,” Poilevey said. “Throwing 80K at something and then having to close — that’s not a good plan.” Le Bouchon remains open for pickup and indoor dining, though space inside is limited. For the full story, go here. — Phil Vettel
Siam Rice
Siam Rice, 117 N. Wells St., has called it quits after 18 years. (Alex Garcia / Chicago Tribune)
Siam Rice (117 N. Wells St.) has closed after 18 years in the Loop, according to a note posted on the Thai restaurant’s window. "Unfortunately, we have come to the decision that it is no longer viable to operate our business during these uncertain times,” the note said. “This was a difficult decision for us, however, recent events and current pandemic conditions have left us concerned for the safety of our customers as well as our staff.” The note ends with an apology to customers and the hope that the restaurant will be able to return in the future. The restaurant’s last day Sept. 15.
Simply It
The Vietnamese restaurant, which had been in Lincoln Park for nearly 14 years, closed permanently in April, reported Block Club Chicago. COVID-19 restrictions and unworkable margins gave owner Tuan Nguyen “no choice” but to close, he told Block Club.
People eat and drink as others pass by Southport Lanes in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood on Sept. 17, 2020. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Southport Lanes
Southport Lanes has lasted nearly a century by evolving, at various times serving as a tavern, bowling alley, speak-easy, brothel and illegal off-track horse betting venue. But the Lakeview mainstay, which opened not long after another pandemic, couldn’t survive COVID-19. Read the full story here. — Ryan Ori
Step Down Cafe
The Pilsen coffee shop announced on its Facebook page that it would close permanently due to the effects of the pandemic.
Taco in a Bag
The Big Jim Reeves was a big hit at Taco in a Bag. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)
Taco in a Bag has closed after five years in Lincoln Square. The shop specialized in playful versions of walking tacos, a dish where components one would normally find on a taco are instead poured into a bag of corn chips. The restaurant announced the closure on Facebook with a surprisingly irreverent, if slightly hopeful video. The owners assured fans that, “we will be back...promise!!!!” Block Club Chicago first reported the closing.
Taqueria Sabor y Sazon
The popular Pilsen taqueria closed permanently in May. The financial difficulties of trying to survive the pandemic’s hospitality restrictions were insurmountable, the owners said.
Tin Fish
The Tin Fish restaurant closed in Tinley Park. (Bob Bong / Daily Southtown)
The coronavirus claimed another high-profile restaurant victim with the permanent closure of Tin Fish, a highly regarded restaurant in south-suburban Tinley Park. A sign on the front door of the seafood restaurant and oyster bar thanked customers “for 18 great years,” and said the decision to close came “with a heavy heart.” “I’m not happy, but it’s something a lot of us are going through,” said partner Curtis Wierbicki, who launched the restaurant in September 2002 with partner Colin Turner. The restaurant closed in July. See the full story here. — Phil Vettel
Tintos & Tapas
Laura Rivera, the owner of the Spanish small plates restaurant, confirmed via email that the closing of Tintos & Tapas was due to the financial strain of the COVID-19 shutdown, as well as its effects on how it operated: “My chef and I cried the last day we were there to clean up,” she wrote. “Carryout is not a model that works for my type of operation at all. Frankly, it is demoralizing to become a fast food.”
Toast Restaurant
Owner Jeanne Roeser confirmed in a Facebook message that she had closed both the Bucktown and Lincoln Park locations of the 24-year-old breakfast favorite: “I couldn’t imagine reopening and surviving with reduced capacity and putting my staff and their families at risk of harm.” Roeser also posted a goodbye note on Facebook, which reads in part: “Nothing lasts forever in this world and it is time to move forward and see what this next phase will bring. I wish you peace and good health, my friends.”
Trattoria No. 10
A goodbye post on the reliable Italian restaurant’s website alluded to the pandemic shutdown as cause for its shuttering, reading, “With no theater and no convention/tourism business for the foreseeable future, there was just no way we could realistically reopen.”
Two Lights Seafood & Oyster
A post on the Old Town restaurant’s Facebook page confirmed that Two Lights has closed, although it did not mention whether or not the shuttering was due to the financial effects of COVID.
U.B. Dogs
U.B. Dogs served classic Chicago hot dog stand fare with serious culinary ambitions. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)
U.B. Dogs (185 N. Franklin St.), a stellar hot dog joint that served a flawless fully loaded Chicago hot dog, freshly grilled burgers and great fries, has closed. With the coronavirus pandemic forcing countless downtown office workers to telecommute from home, the Loop-based U.B. Dogs decided it was time to close for good. Owner Joe Plonka announced the decision on Facebook: “While it breaks our hearts to announce our permanent closure, we wanted to take the time and properly thank our customers and family for their support over these last 10 years. Unfortunately, it’s time for us to end this chapter.” See the full story here. — Nick Kindelsperger
Unicorn Cafe
Unicorn Cafe had been serving coffee to Evanston for almost 30 years before the coffee shop closed permanently due to the financial effects of COVID-19, reported the Daily Northwestern earlier in September. According to the Daily report, ownership said the cafe was getting only 8-10 customers per day. Aside from being a local staple, Unicorn Cafe was one of only a handful of area coffee shops that offered the highly touted Sparrow Coffee.
Wells St. Market
Wells Street Market, which reopened July 6 after weathering the first three months of the coronavirus shut down (and was the first Chicago food hall to resume service) announced it will close for keeps Sept. 18. “From all of us at the Wells Street Market, it has been an honor and a joy to serve Chicagoans every day,” the company said in a release. The food hall made its debut, at 205 W. Wacker Drive, in June 2018. The food hall format had enjoyed a boom in Chicago in recent years. But most have not reopened since the coronavirus shutdown. Only Time Out Market has reopened. But a new market, Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall, launched in early August in the former Cook County Hospital. — Phil Vettel
The Whale closing indefinitely
The Whale (2427 N. Milwaukee Ave.), the glitzy Logan Square restaurant named for what casinos call an obscenely wealthy gambler, closed indefinitely last week. In a message posted on Facebook, the owners blamed the closing on the tight restrictions the state has imposed on restaurants. “Today we were forced to make the decision to lay off all our team members and close our doors to service. The restrictions that have been put on us by the elected officials are suffocating our industry and leaving us no choice. There has been no plan in place or system for relief.” The Whale opened last year, quickly amassing a strong following, though we found the food to be less than stellar. While it’s unknown how long the restaurant will be closed, the owners promise it will eventually return. “We WILL re-open and come back strong. We look forward to serving you again when that time comes.” — Nick Kindelsperger


chicagotribune--2020-10-20--Man whose Burge-related case imploded this month seeks investigation of prosecutors, finding of inno

Man whose Burge-related case imploded this month seeks investigation of prosecutors, finding of innocence

Wilson ’ s attorneys say the special prosecutors should have had ethical concerns about introducing transcripts of Coleman ’ s @ @ @ @ @ s trial , given his established reputation as a liar .
And they say the @ @ @ @ @ Trutenko early on , “ at the very least , to make sure that their @ @ @ @ @ were complete , ” Wilson ’ s attorneys wrote in one filing .

Jackie Wilson is flanked by his wife, Sandra, left, and daughter Candice Wilson after a news conference outside the Leighton Criminal Court Building Oct. 2, 2020. His murder case was abruptly dropped after allegations that a Cook County prosecutor lied under oath. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Attorneys for a man whose third trial for a 1982 cop killing dissolved in dramatic fashion this month want to recoup more than half a million dollars from prosecutors as punishment for “an unparalleled pattern of sanctionable, contemptuous and unethical misconduct” stretching back decades.
Jackie Wilson’s lawyers also are urging Cook County Judge William Hooks to recommend an outside investigation into potential criminal conduct by prosecutors in the bizarre saga, they wrote in a new court filing this week.
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While Wilson’s charges were dropped outright amid significant confusion and controversy, the matter is far from over. Attorneys are expected back in court Wednesday to present and discuss their requests.
Wilson, whose second conviction was thrown out in 2018 after he successfully alleged he was tortured by notorious ex-Chicago police Cmdr. Jon Burge, also wants a formal finding that he is innocent of the slaying.
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Attorneys are seeking sanctions against both Cook County prosecutors and the separate team of private attorneys appointed to prosecute Wilson in recent proceedings. Wilson alleges prosecutors tried to frame him and hid evidence for decades, most recently regarding the long friendship between a key witness and a Cook County prosecutor who handled Wilson’s 1989 trial.
The special prosecutors dropped Wilson’s case Oct. 1 after that prosecutor, Nick Trutenko, allegedly perjured himself on the stand. Trutenko was fired from the office shortly after his testimony.
Wilson cannot be tried a fourth time for the murder.
A representative of the Cook County state’s attorney’s office said Oct. 2 they would be referring the Trutenko matter to outside agencies to investigate whether charges were warranted; they did not specify which agencies.
A spokeswoman for the state attorney general’s office since confirmed that they received a referral request to look into possible perjury charges against a former assistant state’s attorney. As of last week that office had not yet decided whether to take the matter on.
The witness, William Coleman, was central to the case, having testified in 1989 that Wilson confessed the slaying to him when they were locked up together in Cook County Jail.
Coleman was widely reputed to be a con man and a fraud, with an international rap sheet, and by the time this year’s trial rolled around neither defense attorneys nor the team of private attorneys appointed to prosecute the case knew if he was alive or dead.
But this month, Trutenko took the stand and said not only was Coleman still alive, but the two still kept in touch.
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Wilson’s attorneys say the special prosecutors should have had ethical concerns about introducing transcripts of Coleman’s testimony in this year’s trial, given his established reputation as a liar. And they say the special prosecutors should have contacted Trutenko early on, “at the very least, to make sure that their files (and disclosures) were complete,” Wilson’s attorneys wrote in one filing.
The Cook County prosecutors assigned to represent the office and Trutenko’s interests as a witness also knew about his friendship with Coleman, and urged special prosecutors not to ask Trutenko about it, Wilson’s attorneys allege, calling it an attempt to cover up the truth.
Cook County state’s attorneys also fought hard against disclosing a 2019 memo about allegations of misconduct against Trutenko in a separate murder case, Wilson’s attorneys note.
Wilson’s attorneys want Trutenko to turn over all his communications with the controversial informant, Coleman. Trutenko’s attorney has objected, saying it would be an unwarranted invasion of privacy and that the judge no longer has jurisdiction over the matter since the case was dropped.
And according to Wilson’s attorneys, the Cook County state’s attorney’s office has said Trutenko wiped his work phone clean the evening of Oct. 1, just after his surprising testimony.
In addition, Wilson is petitioning for a formal certificate of innocence. That designation, if granted, could be used as evidence in any civil suits he files. It also could entitle him to a significant cash payout from the state, along with potential help in finding housing and employment.
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The certificate could also provide a measure of finality to the proceedings, which ended without a formal finding of guilty or not guilty. The petition for innocence also could keep the matter alive in court for weeks, if prosecutors object and further hearings are warranted.
Hooks has called Wilson’s case perhaps the most complicated Burge-related case that has surfaced.
Undisputed in the case was that Wilson’s brother Andrew fired the shots that killed Chicago police Officers William Fahey and Richard O’Brien in 1982. Both brothers alleged they were tortured at the hands of police after their arrest. Wilson’s first conviction was thrown out on appeal; at retrial in 1989 he was convicted of O’Brien’s murder but acquitted of Fahey’s.
Andrew Wilson was convicted at his retrial; he died in prison in 2007.
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-10-20--‘New York, California, and Illinois, your states are way too highly taxed, big crime, people fleeing

‘New York, California, and Illinois, your states are way too highly taxed, big crime, people fleeing, and just about every other problem you can have.’ When Trump talks about Chicago — and the state of Illinois — we track it.

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

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


chicagotribune--2020-10-20--Native American tribes make new move to shut down flow of oil in Dakota Access Pipeline

The Standing Rock Sioux and other tribes succeeded on their first attempt , only to have an appeals court overturn @ @ @ @ @ ’ s shutdown order earlier this year .
Now , they ’ re asking the @ @ @ @ @ ruling to satisfy the appellate judges and then to again order the line to cease @ @ @ @ @ reported .

BISMARCK, N.D. — Native American tribes opposed to the Dakota Access Pipeline once again have asked a federal judge to stop the flow of oil while the legal battle over the line’s future plays out.
The Standing Rock Sioux and other tribes succeeded on their first attempt, only to have an appeals court overturn U.S. District Judge James Boasberg’s shutdown order earlier this year. Now, they’re asking the judge to clarify his earlier ruling to satisfy the appellate judges and then to again order the line to cease operations, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
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The tribes argue that potential harm to their water supply outweighs any economic impacts of shutting down the line, which has been moving North Dakota oil to Illinois for more than three years.
“The Tribes are irreparably harmed by the ongoing operation of the pipeline, through the exposure to catastrophic risk, through the ongoing trauma of the government’s refusal to comply with the law, and through undermining the Tribes' sovereign governmental role to protect their members and respond to potential disasters,” attorneys Jan Hasselman and Nicole Ducheneaux wrote in a Friday filing.
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[ Activists rail about need for Dakota Access pipeline expansion as coronavirus threatens oil markets and federal ruling raises more questions ]
Tribes fear a spill into the Missouri River just north of the Standing Rock Reservation would pollute their water supply. Pipeline operator Energy Transfer and the Army Corps of Engineers both maintain the pipeline is safe. Prolonged protests in 2016 and 2017 drew thousands of people to camps near the river crossing and resulted in hundreds of arrests.
U.S. Department of Justice spokeswoman Danielle Nichols declined to comment Monday on the tribes' filing. The Corps and Energy Transfer have until Nov. 20 to file a formal response.
Boasberg, who is overseeing the four-year-old lawsuit filed by the tribes, ordered an extensive environmental study last spring because he felt previous, less-extensive environmental analysis by the Corps left lingering questions.
Boasberg in July revoked the easement that allows for the river crossing and ordered the pipeline shut down until its environmental soundness was proven. A federal appeals court allowed oil to keep flowing, however, ruling that Boasberg hadn’t justified a shutdown. That same appeals court is now determining whether to uphold his decision regarding the study.
Tribes are asking Boasberg to issue an injunction to shut down the pipeline while the legal fight plays out.


chicagotribune--2020-10-20--Tracking Chicago homicide victims

Tracking Chicago homicide victims

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

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chicagotribune--2020-10-20--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Here’s what happened Oct. 19 with COVID-19 in the Chicago area

The overall number of new cases in long-term care is still about a fourth of the peak weekly increases seen @ @ @ @ @ latest rise in long-term cases comes amid an overall jump in detected infections in Illinois @ @ @ @ @ a factor in those trends , data also shows statewide increases in the percentage of @ @ @ @ @ well as in new hospitalizations and deaths , suggesting to researchers and public health experts @ @ @ @ @ more than it ’ s dying out , particularly downstate .

We have lifted the paywall on this story. To support essential reporting, please consider becoming a subscriber .
CTU workers direct vehicles lined up for COVID-19 testing outside of the Chicago Teachers Union on Dec. 30, 2021, in Chicago. CPS starts back to school on Monday following their holiday break. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Citing a dramatic increase in the number of coronavirus cases since the start of October, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday threatened to reimpose stricter guidelines on businesses.
The mayor didn’t specify what measures she would turn to if COVID-19 cases continue to rise and said she hopes to avoid more painful steps. But, she said, she will if the cases continue rising. She asked residents to stop having dinner parties and card games, noting that people are letting their guards down and getting sick as a result.
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Meanwhile, Illinois health officials announced 3,113 new known cases of COVID-19 and 22 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known infections in Illinois to 347,161 and the statewide death toll to 9,236 since the start of the pandemic. Officials also reported 48,684 new tests in the last 24 hours. The seven-day statewide positivity rate is 5.4%.
In the afternoon, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced southern Illinois will be the latest region to have its reopening scaled back after reaching a state-set COVID-19 positivity rate threshold, while warning that “in Illinois, it looks like a new wave could be upon us.”
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“Every region of the state has started to move in the wrong direction,” Pritzker said at a news conference in southern Illinois. “Cases, positivity rates, hospitalizations and deaths are rising statewide.”
Two other regions appear on the brink of seeing some businesses limited and gathering caps halved. The region that includes DuPage and Kane counties had surpassed an 8% positivity rate for two consecutive days, with public health officials reporting an 8.5% positivity rate for the region on Monday.
Here’s what’s happening Monday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
7:40 p.m.: Chicago police union offices closed after official tests positive for COVID-19
The offices of the Chicago police’s largest union were closed Monday after one of its officials tested positive for COVID-19, the union said.
The offices of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 at 1412 W. Washington Blvd. will be closed until further notice due to the test result.
The FOP represents thousands of rank-and-file Chicago police officers. Police Superintendent David Brown has said he expects more than 1,000 Chicago cops to have tested positive for coronavirus by the end of the year.
“Due to Covid-19 related issues, the FOP offices will be closed until further notice,” the union said on its web site. “The phone lines will still be operational for EMERGENCY purposes only(ie, OIS (officer-involved shootings), or accidents with serious injuries).”
—Jeremy Gorner
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5:40 p.m.: Illinois community colleges see big drop in enrollment amid the coronavirus pandemic, reflecting national declines in higher education
Enrollment at Illinois community colleges plunged nearly 14% this fall, an indication that low-income and older students who typically favor the institutions might be struggling to pursue higher education because of the coronavirus pandemic.
All but three of the state’s 48 community colleges saw substantial headcount declines, according to initial data from the Illinois Community College Board. Compared to last year, about 37,200 fewer students enrolled in for-credit classes this fall. Some of the biggest drops were among students over age 30 and in career-track courses such as nursing, construction and welding.
The preliminary data, collected in an online survey at the end of class registration, mirrors national trends. The latest analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows community colleges are suffering the greatest losses, with first-year students down nearly 23%. Countrywide, undergraduate enrollment declined about 4% across all colleges and universities.
In Illinois, community colleges serve a significant population of minority and first-generation students, said Brian Durham, executive director of the ICCB.
Many of these students already face financial or technological hurdles, which have only worsened during the pandemic, Durham said. Enrollment for African American and Latino students were down about 19% compared to a 12% decrease for white students, Durham said.
“Even those that might enroll virtually, they may have a challenge getting access to a computer,” Durham said. “They may have a challenge having enough computers to also allow their children to do virtual instruction. Or of course, it could be that people have lost jobs, or they are having housing challenges.”
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Read more here. —Elyssa Cherney
3:34 p.m.: With a ‘new wave’ of coronavirus, Pritzker places southern Illinois under tighter restrictions; four Chicago area counties, including DuPage and Kane, could be next
Southern Illinois is the latest region to have its reopening scaled back after reaching a state-set COVID-19 positivity rate threshold, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday, while warning that “in Illinois, it looks like a new wave could be upon us.”
“Every region of the state has started to move in the wrong direction,” Pritzker said at a news conference in southern Illinois. “Cases, positivity rates, hospitalizations and deaths are rising statewide.”
On Thursday, southern Illinois will join the northwestern region of the state in being ordered to scale back its reopening, effective Thursday. When regions reach a positivity rate of 8% or higher for three consecutive days, Pritzker’s administration has ordered indoor dining and bar service shuttered, gathering limits set at 25, down from 50 in the state’s reopening plan.
Two other regions appear on the brink of seeing some businesses limited and gathering caps halved. The region that includes DuPage and Kane counties had surpassed an 8% positivity rate for two consecutive days, with public health officials reporting an 8.5% positivity rate for the region on Monday.
The region that includes Will and Kankakee counties had also surpassed that threshold, with the state reporting an 8.3% positivity rate there on Monday, the second consecutive day that region saw a rate above 8%. That region saw its reopening scaled back in September, but the region was returned to the rules under Pritzker’s phase four reopening plan, after its rate dropped to under 6.5% for three days in a row.
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The seven-day statewide positivity rate continues to rise, and stood at 5.4% for the weeklong period ending Sunday. To date, the state is reporting 347,161 known cases of coronavirus and 9,236 deaths since the pandemic began.
The statewide positivity rate was 4.3% a week earlier, and it stood at 3.5% on Oct. 1.
Read more here. —Jamie Munks
1 p.m.: Surge of COVID-19 cases across the state prompts New Trier High School to again postpone return to campus
Officials at New Trier High School are postponing an anticipated return to campus citing the recent surge of COVID-19 cases across Illinois.
After reopening for just one week, the high school’s campuses in Winnetka and Northfield closed last Monday, as officials put their 25% Hybrid Plan on hold.
While officials had indicated they could potentially resume in-person student instruction this week, in an Oct. 16 parent letter, New Trier Superintendent Paul Sally said given the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the township and across the state, the halt of hybrid instruction will remain in place for the week of Oct. 19.
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“As in the previous week, our pause this week is due to the continued seriousness of the COVID-19 numbers across Illinois and in our community, not the number of New Trier student and staff cases,” Sally said.
In addition, Sally announced that parents are invited to an Oct. 22 webinar related to the high school’s launch of a voluntary, weekly COVID-19 saliva screening program for students and staff, which was recently approved by the school board.
Read more here. —Karen Ann Cullotta
12:04 p.m.: 3,113 new known COVID-19 cases and 22 additional deaths reported
Illinois health officials on Monday announced 3,113 new known cases of COVID-19 and 22 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known infections in Illinois to 347,161 and the statewide death toll to 9,236 since the start of the pandemic. Officials also reported 48,684 new tests in the last 24 hours. The seven-day statewide positivity rate is 5.4%.
—Chicago Tribune staff
11:52 a.m.: Applications open for restaurant worker relief fund
Online applications opened Monday for the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, which aims to support restaurant industry workers with a one-time grant of $500 per person for rent, food, utilities and other living expenses to those who qualify.
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Priority is given to workers with COVID-19 or who are caring for an immediate family member with COVID-19, or have been unemployed for three weeks or more without unemployment benefits, the IRA announced. The relief fund was announced in August. Applicants should have proof of Illinois residency, a pay stub from the last place of employment where they worked for at least 90 days, and a doctor’s note, as all are required as part of the application process.
The fund is supported by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Telemundo, Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, EMPLOYERS, Chicago Gourmet’s Hamburger Hop and Go Gourmet dinner and virtual events, plus private donations and corporate sponsorships. So far, more than $150,000 has been raised for the fund.
To apply or to donate, visit illinoisrestaurants.org.
—Grace Wong
11:51 a.m.: Trump criticizes Anthony Fauci, says ‘people are tired of hearing’ him and ‘all these idiots’ on coronavirus
President Donald Trump on Monday sought to buck up his campaign staffers two weeks from Election Day, dismissing the cautionary coronavirus advice of scientific experts as well as polling showing him trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden across key battleground states.
Speaking to campaign aides on a conference call, Trump insisted he believes he’s going to win, volunteering he didn’t have that sense of confidence two weeks ago when he was hospitalized with COVID-19. One week since returning to the campaign trail, where his handling of the pandemic is a central issue to voters, Trump blasted his government’s own scientists for their criticism of his performance.
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Read more here. —Associated Press
11:30 a.m.: Chicago elected officials raise doubts about CPS reopening plans
Dozens of Chicago aldermen and state lawmakers have signed a letter saying they’re “deeply concerned” about the city’s plans to bring students back into Chicago Public Schools' classrooms before the end of the year “and the foreseeable future.”
At the same time, the elected officials also said they are have concerns about remote learning, including the fact that some students still lack access to online lessons.
“We recognize that the current remote learning system is difficult for students, working families, and the educational staff committed to them,” the letter states. “At the same time, we also don’t want to put students in harms' way, especially as other cities have encountered real difficulties in returning to in-person learning.”
Read more here. —Hannah Leone
11 a.m.: Wisconsin judge reimposes Gov. Tony Evers' coronavirus order limiting bar, restaurant capacity
A Wisconsin judge on Monday reimposed an order from Gov. Tony Evers' administration limiting the number of people who can gather in bars, restaurants and other indoor places to 25% of capacity.
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The capacity limits order was issued Oct. 6 by Andrea Palm, secretary of the state Department of Health Services, in the face of surging coronavirus cases in Wisconsin. A judge on Oct. 14 blocked the order after it was challenged by the Tavern League of Wisconsin, which argued it amounted to a “defacto closure” order for the bars and restaurants it represents.
But Barron County Judge James Babler on Monday put the capacity limits back into effect. The judge declined a request from the Tavern League to keep the capacity limit order on hold while the lawsuit is pending. The judge also declined to stay his ruling while the Tavern League and others fighting it appeal his decision.
Read more here. —Associated Press
9:58 a.m.: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot threatens stricter coronavirus restrictions if city’s cases continue to rise, ‘Make no mistake: We are in the second surge.’
Citing a dramatic increase in the number of coronavirus cases since the start of October, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday threatened to reimpose stricter guidelines on businesses.
The mayor didn’t specify what measures she would turn to if COVID-19 cases continue to rise and said she hopes to avoid more painful steps. But, she said, she will if the cases continue rising. She asked residents to stop having dinner parties and card games, noting that people are letting their guards down and getting sick as a result.
“This is a time for each of us to dig down even deeper and be more diligent and if we don’t see a dramatic turnaround in our numbers and soon, then we will not hesitate to take the steps that are necessary to save our city, save our residents, even if that means going back to some of our Phase 3 restrictions.”
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Read more here. —Gregory Pratt and John Byrne
9:29 a.m.: Cases on the rise in long-term care facilities
The state’s increase in COVID-19 cases is also showing up in places where residents are particularly vulnerable: long-term care facilities.
Over the weekend, the Illinois Department of Public Health updated its weekly tallies from the state’s roughly 1,200 nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. The data shows the biggest jump in the number of new cases since late May — 1,101 new infections detected in residents, up from 651 the week prior, or 450 more new cases.
The last weekly increase that big was between May 23 and May 29, when cases jumped from 1,700 to 2,216, or 516 more new cases in a week.
[ Coronavirus at Illinois long-term care facilities: 31,995 confirmed cases and 4,888 deaths / ]
The overall number of new cases in long-term care is still about a fourth of the peak weekly increases seen in early May. The latest rise in long-term cases comes amid an overall jump in detected infections in Illinois. While increased testing is a factor in those trends, data also shows statewide increases in the percentage of tests coming back positive as well as in new hospitalizations and deaths, suggesting to researchers and public health experts that the infection is spreading more than it’s dying out, particularly downstate.
The state does not publicize the number of long-term care residents hospitalized with COVID-19, but it does tabulate deaths. In the past two weeks, the number of new deaths has approached 100 a week, after several weeks where the figures hovered around 60. Still, the number of new deaths remains far less than the 400-plus a week seen in late April and much of May.
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—Joe Mahr
9:23 a.m.: As COVID-19 surges, so do teacher retirements
A dramatic increase in Illinois teachers retiring in recent months is likely linked to educators stepping away from the classroom because of COVID-19 health and safety concerns, state officials said on Friday.
From July through September, 566 teachers from across the state retired, a 45% increase from the same period in 2019, according to Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois data. The new retirements also come during a time when the numbers usually fall off.
Read more here. —Karen Ann Cullotta
7:05 a.m.: Lightfoot, health officials to give update on COVID-19 response
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and city Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady were scheduled to give an update Monday morning on the city’s coronavirus response, according to the mayor’s office.
The briefing, which you can watch live here at 9:15 a.m., comes as Chicago, the state’s Region 11 in its COVID-19 reopening plan, has seen more the percentage of positive tests increase to more than 6 percent along with the number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations.
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Sunday blamed the state’s surging COVID-19 numbers in part on President Donald Trump and his allies for not wearing masks and holding rallies that don’t require masks.
—Chicago Tribune staff
6 a.m.: In a year of unexpected tragedy and turmoil, Chicago police Superintendent David Brown sought to reshape his department
On a brisk, sunny day in April, David Brown walked around in front of a South Side funeral home sporting a mask as scores of police vehicles lined the street to honor a Chicago police officer who had succumbed to COVID-19.
The pandemic prevented Brown, just days on the job as Chicago’s new top cop, from delivering remarks in the Calahan Funeral Home. Instead the new superintendent talked to reporters across the street from the building for about two minutes and stuck to the talking points of the day, offering condolences to Sgt. Clifford Martin’s family.
Despite the circumstances, it was nothing remarkable for a police leader taking on one of his ceremonial duties. Brown was still trying to ease into his role, going from leadership of police in Dallas to remaking the Chicago Police Department in his own image, and he had felt up to the job.
“While many people may think of Dallas like the 1980s TV show, J.R. Ewing, and cattle ranchers and 10-gallon hats and oil fields, I grew up in a neighborhood that looked more like Chicago’s West and South Side,” Brown had told the Chicago City Council’s Public Safety Committee the day before Martin’s funeral. “I know the joys of living surrounded by others. I also know the struggles of growing up poor, living and working in a historically segregated city, as Dallas and Chicago share these difficult pasts and present.”
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But perhaps nothing could have prepared Brown for the months to come. He would quickly find himself attempting to help steer Chicago through the pandemic crisis and its effects, surging summer violence and civil unrest.
Read more here. —Jeremy Gorner
6 a.m.: Arrivederci, Little Italy? Adio, Greektown? Two of Chicago’s global dining destinations struggle to save their souls.
Red sauce and wine still flow on Little Italy’s Taylor Street, and the saganaki still flames on Greektown’s strip of Halsted.
But there is less Italian and Greek heritage on the menu these days on two of Chicago’s best-known dining corridors.
“We have tourists come in and ask, ‘Where is Little Italy?’” said Ralph Davino, third-generation owner of Pompei, one of a handful of Italian restaurants that remain on Taylor Street. “I have to tell them it’s gone.”
The Italian and Greek flair that distinguished those neighborhoods has been ebbing for years, a result of changes in demographics and consumers' palates. The booming Fulton Market district nearby and encroaching real estate development added new pressures. Some worry the pandemic will be the final straw.
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Read more here. —Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz and Ryan Ori
6 a.m.: Secluded cottages and woodland cabins are popular retreats for wanderlust-plagued Chicagoans looking for a socially distanced escape
Cottages and cabins are in high demand for the late fall and approaching winter, as we attempt to ease our way through our collective cold-weather confinement forced by COVID-19, without the respite of the summertime outdoors.
In the Midwest, vacation rental owners say they’re seeing a spike in winter bookings, as their quaint getaways offer a particularly appealing hygge aesthetic — a Danish term for cozy contentment — that is proving irresistible to those suffering from wanderlust.
With social distancing in mind, secluded cottages and cabins are proving to be increasingly popular escapes, but hosts caution that people should monitor state travel restrictions and plan their trips thoughtfully to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Read more here. —Ariel Cheung
Breaking coronavirus news Stay up to date with the latest information on coronavirus with our breaking news alerts.
In case you missed it
Here are five stories that happened last week related to COVID-19.


chicagotribune--2020-10-21--Daywatch: New COVID-19 restrictions for Chicago suburbs, Lightfoot emailed lobbyist after ban and vi

Daywatch: New COVID-19 restrictions for Chicago suburbs, Lightfoot emailed lobbyist after ban and video dating for cuffing season

The weather has turned cold , officially kicking off cuffing season , the time of year when singles look for @ @ @ @ @ the chilly months .
Chicago had a landscape ripe for cuffing season last fall , @ @ @ @ @ of top 10 cities in the nation that were having the most sex and looking @ @ @ @ @ this year , as the COVID-19 pandemic has tilted just about every aspect of life @ @ @ @ @ will dating continue to be impacted , especially during a time when it typically soars @

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Good morning, Chicago. On Tuesday, Illinois health officials announced 3,714 new known cases of COVID-19 and 41 additional fatalities. The statewide 7-day positive rate ticked up to 5.5% and Chicago’s positivity rate reached 6.7%.
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The city also added five more states to its quarantine list and none were removed. Here’s a refresher on what you need to know about the order to avoid a large fine.
Meanwhile, Chicago-area hospitals are bracing for things to get worse with the emergence of what some are calling a second wave.
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Here’s more coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
Andrew Marinelli cleans the bar as the staff prepares for dinner service in the rooftop canopy area of Roots Handmade Pizza South Loop on Sept. 28, 2020. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
The state is rolling back reopening restrictions across a wide swath of suburban Chicago later this week as Illinois continues to see a major resurgence of the coronavirus.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday afternoon that starting Friday, indoor service at bars and restaurants will be prohibited in DuPage, Kane, Will and Kankakee counties, an area that’s home to more than 1 in 6 Illinois residents.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot provides an update on Chicago's response to COVID-19 at City Hall on Oct. 19, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Months after a new law took effect banning elected public officials from lobbying Chicago City Hall, Mayor Lori Lightfoot exchanged emails with a lobbyist who would have been barred under the new standards had they been enforced, the Tribune has learned.
Two tarps cover the bases of the iconic Weber Arch at Northwestern University in Evanston after it was vandalized by anti-police protesters. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
A group of Northwestern University students urging the school to cut ties with local and campus police departments is now calling on President Morton Schapiro to resign after a protest outside his home this weekend prompted him to rebuke the movement and characterize its recent actions as violent.
Six of the Chicago 7 defendants appear in 1970. Abbie Hoffman, from left, John Froines, Lee Weiner, Jerry Rubin, Rennie Davis and Tom Hayden were acquitted of conspiracy, but five were convicted of other charges. The guilty verdicts were later overturned. (William Yates / Chicago Tribune)
Even five decades later, former federal prosecutor Dick Schultz has a pretty good idea of when the legendary Chicago 7 trial started to go off the rails: during the testimony of the very first witness.
Video dating, now a larger part of dating culture, could be a reason why cuffing season may not be too impacted this fall and winter. (The Good Brigade/DigitalVision via Getty Images)
The weather has turned cold, officially kicking off cuffing season, the time of year when singles look for short-term relationships to get through the chilly months. Chicago had a landscape ripe for cuffing season last fall, ranking fourth on the list of top 10 cities in the nation that were having the most sex and looking to casually date. But this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic has tilted just about every aspect of life on its head, how will dating continue to be impacted, especially during a time when it typically soars?


chicagotribune--2020-10-21--Voters offered a clear contrast in race between U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood and state Sen. Jim Oberwe

Voters offered a clear contrast in race between U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood and state Sen. Jim Oberweis

“ I 100 % support someone ’ s right to protest or demonstrate if they see something wrong , ” @ @ @ @ @ criticized Underwood ’ s reaction to recent social unrest around the country .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ .
...
I would also would agree that there have been some very serious mistakes @ @ @ @ @ a few police officers .
And where they are making mistakes , they need to @ @ @ @ @ .

Wearing an “Oberweis for Congress” mask, the Republican candidate for the 14th Congressional District Jim Oberweis sat in a corner booth at his restaurant in west suburban Geneva, talking about the coronavirus pandemic, government waste and jobs.
As he spoke about the need for less government regulation, his puzzlement over how wearing masks has become politicized and President Donald Trump, patrons munched on wood-fired pizza and gulped milkshakes behind him. Half of the restaurant’s tables were closed to promote social distancing.
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One man lingered, then told Oberweis that he and others he knew were backing the Republican. Oberweis smiled and rose from his seat, giving the man a fist-bump.
“Good luck, Jim!” another man called out.
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Despite the good vibes in his restaurant, Oberweis is running in a tightly split district that was reliably Republican until Rep. Lauren Underwood flipped it for Democrats two years ago.
Oberweis, a dairy magnate from Sugar Grove, has run unsuccessfully for Illinois governor, U.S. senator and U.S. representative, while winning a bid for the state Senate in 2012.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 47 U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood crosses her fingers while talking with supporters after arriving at her election night gathering for the 14th Congressional District race on Nov. 8, 2022, in Plainfield. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 22 A day after Election Day, Jim Oberweis appears in his office and store at 951 Ice Cream Drive in North Aurora, Nov. 4, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
As the youngest Black women to join the U.S. House, Underwood quickly became a rising star in Democratic circles. The former nurse and health policy adviser during the Barack Obama administration also is well positioned as Americans focus on the coronavirus pandemic.
The two candidates agree on one point: each believes their opponent is out of step with voters in the district that sprawls from Lake County west into DeKalb County and south to Interstate 80. The district, which favored President Donald Trump by 3.9% in 2016, is a mix of dense suburbs, new subdivisions, small towns and farmland.
“I think that the choice between the two of us is very clear for voters,” Underwood said in an interview. “My opponent spends a lot of time attacking me and distorting my record, but not a lot of time talking about legislation. I think that says a lot about his campaign. I mean, he doesn’t have a positive agenda to share with voters.”
“It is a clear contrast and choice,” Underwood said. “We are completely different.”
Oberweis is pinning his hopes on his conservative bona fides: a push for lower taxes, less regulation and a resistance to efforts to defund law enforcement. He has been outspoken on immigration issues in the past and he backs both a southern border wall and the use of technology to thwart illegal immigration.
Underwood, he says, is not a match for the district’s constituents.
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“Oh my gosh, she’s way too far to the left,” Oberweis said of Underwood. “She pretends she’s this nice, moderate Democrat who is bipartisan. Nothing could be further from the truth. She’s voted with Nancy Pelosi 100% of the time. She represents Nancy Pelosi, not the district.”
Underwood says it’s Oberweis who is the district’s outlier.
“He’s completely out of touch with our community’s values on issues that are the most important issues in our election: COVID-19 and health care, lowering health care costs. We have not heard an articulation of a plan forward or a point of view that keeps are families safe and healthy," Underwood said.
In a telling sign of the state of the campaign, Underwood was endorsed by the Illinois Farm Bureau’s political action committee in an event featuring a Minooka pumpkin farmer. It’s a key backing since agricultural groups have traditionally supported Republican candidates, and two years ago backed Underwood’s opponent, incumbent Randy Hultgren.
The rookie congresswoman, 40 years younger than her opponent, is also bolstered by a well-stocked campaign fund, allowing her to flood the airwaves and social media will advertising as early voters flock to the polls. Underwood upset Republican Hultgren in 2018, delivering the once reliable GOP territory to the Democrats and helping her party take control of the House during the midterms.
Underwood raised $1.8 million in the third quarter, her campaign reported. She began July with nearly $3.2 million, spent $2.7 million through September and began October with $2.3 million for the final stretch run. Underwood’s campaign has received numerous donations from West Coast tech sector moguls, as well as local money from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts.
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Underwood last week also released a new television ad today highlighting her legislation, the Lower Insulin Costs Now Act, which Trump signed into law at the end of 2019.
Oberweis reported having $875,841 on hand to start the month after giving his campaign a $600,000 loan. Overall, Oberweis has given his congressional campaign $1.7 million, federal records show. Unlike two years ago, when money from the national parties poured into both 14th District campaigns, Republicans this time around have mostly steered their money elsewhere.
Oberweis shrugged when asked about the lack of money coming from national Republicans.
“We’d always like more support,” he said, theorizing that either people thought he could self-fund his campaign or that the money wasn’t likely to swing the race one way or the other.
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In 2018, Underwood won with 52% of the vote. Republicans continue to hold considerable sway throughout the 14th District, with many state, county and local positions held by GOP members. The 14th takes on added importance this year because Illinois stands to lose at least one congressional district in the aftermath of the 2020 census. If Underwood holds on to her seat, the Democratically-controlled state legislature will be able to draw new districts with her in mind.
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Congressional reapportionment is done after the census results are released. The redistricting process will take place next year.
As health officials warn of the continued dangers of coronavirus, Underwood said the federal government should have been much better prepared for COVID-19.
“The truth is, it didn’t have to be this bad,” Underwood said. “This has been a remarkable failure of leadership from the White House. At the end of the day, we need to get control of this deadly virus with an aggressive national strategy, including robust COVID testing, contact tracing and treatment for patients as we work to develop a vaccine.”
The congresswoman took her criticism a step further, saying that Republican leaders have not only mishandled the response to the pandemic, but “spread misinformation" about the virus, its severity and best practices for how the public should respond.
“That’s so disturbing and inappropriate,” she said.
Trump, she said, “is not a trusted source of information on health care matters.”
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Oberweis gives Trump a “B” grade on his handling of the pandemic, crediting the White House for “realizing it early” and banning flights from China. But Oberweis said he is puzzled by the hesitation by some to wear masks, which he says are key to reducing transmission and slowing the spread of the virus.
The different campaign styles of the candidates during the pandemic have showcased the differences over how the two parties are approaching COVID-19.
Oberweis has been active in the field throughout the campaign, holding a series of in-person campaign events on weekends. This past weekend, he also visited several police stations throughout the district in an effort, he said, “to tell them ‘thank you’ for what they do to keep our businesses and lives safe.”
“I 100% support someone’s right to protest or demonstrate if they see something wrong,” said Oberweis, who has criticized Underwood’s reaction to recent social unrest around the country. “I’ve done it myself. ... I would also would agree that there have been some very serious mistakes that have been made by a few police officers. And where they are making mistakes, they need to be held responsible for those.
“But to therefore jump from there to saying we should defund our police departments and that a large number of our men and women in blue are bad people is just absolutely ridiculous.”
Underwood has mostly held her meetings online or in small, socially distant gatherings in supporters' backyards. She calls them “porch parties.” She touts her record on health care matters, including a bill that reduces the cost of insulin that was signed into law by the president, and said she remains focused on making health care more affordable and accessible.
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While Oberweis is still campaigning in person, going door-to-door throughout the district, he said he always wears a mask and steps back from the door after someone answers. Most people, he said, are understanding and appreciative, although he has encountered one person who was so angry at the mask they asked him to remove it.
Oberweis said he believes the decision to open schools should be made at the local level and that it is important for them to do so as soon as it is safe because of the benefits to in-person education for students and the detriments of online-only learning on children’s social growth and mental well-being.
Oberweis also said he has been encouraging voters to cast their ballots through the mail if they are hesitant to vote in person. He said he has no concerns about the security or validity of mail-in voting (except, he said, in Cook County).
Oberweis is trying to elevate his message on fighting government waste and corruption, highlighting his work in Springfield on budget issues, streamlining his staff and office space to save taxpayer dollars and focusing on “growing and creating more jobs.”
Underwood, he said, " has never been in the private sector, has never created a job."
With a new batch of early voting sites opening across the district this week, voters will soon decide whose vision for the future aligns more closely with their preferences.
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“We’ll find out,” Oberweis said when asked how he was doing, “in about two weeks.”
poconnell@chicagotribune.com