chicagotribune--2020-12-07--Retailers are warning of shipping delays as millions shop online. Here are the deadlines you need to

Retailers are warning of shipping delays as millions shop online. Here are the deadlines you need to meet.

Others have warned customers shipments may take longer than usual to arrive but haven ’ t set deadlines .
Abercrombie @ @ @ @ @ they needed to shop by Dec. 4 if they didn ’ t want to pay @ @ @ @ @ company has since said shoppers have more time but encouraged people to check the website @ @ @ @ @ remains a very fluid situation .
”

This isn’t the year to procrastinate on your online holiday shopping.
Retailers are warning that orders could take longer than usual to arrive because consumers are increasingly buying everyday essentials and holiday gifts online.
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Shipping companies like UPS and FedEx say they have been handling package volumes usually seen during the height of the holidays all year as people shop online to avoid trips to stores during the pandemic.
Now that the holidays have arrived, online sales are still growing. Consumers spent a record $10.8 billion on Cyber Monday, up 15.1% compared with last year, even after earlier-than-usual deals shifted some sales to before Thanksgiving, according to Adobe Analytics.
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A sign in the window of a FedEx office reads, "Now Hiring," Oct. 26, 2020 in New York. Carriers like FedEx and UPS are ramping up their holiday hiring while asking store clients to move their shipping volume on lighter days in their network. (Mark Lennihan / AP)
People choosing not to travel during the pandemic are also expected to ship more gifts to loved ones. Here’s what to know to make sure gifts arrive on time.
Why are delays possible?
Retailers and shipping companies have been preparing for extra packages. UPS and FedEx said they are hiring 100,000 and 70,000 seasonal workers respectively, and both say they are doing more weekend deliveries.
Still, the industry’s capacity could be short by up to 7 million packages a day between Thanksgiving and Christmas, said Satish Jindel, president of ShipMatrix, which analyzes shipping data.
Delays of a day or two won’t affect people buying gifts on Black Friday that they don’t intend to give until Dec. 25, but they could be an issue for last-minute shoppers, Jindel said.
“Don’t try to order after the 15th thinking you’ll get a better price, because the better price will be lost in extra shipping or not getting it on time,” he said.
UPS works with big retailers to make sure they know how much shipping capacity they can use during the holiday season, the company said in a statement. If retailers need more, UPS picks up the extra packages as space becomes available.
UPS said it wants to make sure it can accommodate other customers, including smaller businesses that are also seeing more holiday sales.
FedEx, which is predicting peak season shipping volumes will be 22% higher than last year, temporarily extended FedEx Ground transit times on some routes by one day starting Nov. 2.
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How soon should I order?
Retailers’ rules for delivery by Dec. 25 vary. Crate & Barrel’s deadline for standard shipping is Thursday. Lands’ End shoppers must order monogrammed gifts by Friday; the deadline for other items is Dec. 15. Macy’s and L.L. Bean give shoppers until Dec. 18 and 19, respectively.
Others have warned customers shipments may take longer than usual to arrive but haven’t set deadlines. Abercrombie & Fitch initially told shoppers they needed to shop by Dec. 4 if they didn’t want to pay for expedited shipping. The company has since said shoppers have more time but encouraged people to check the website before ordering because “this remains a very fluid situation.”
Target’s website says high shipping volume could delay deliveries but most packages shipped to customers’ homes will arrive within a day or two of the estimated date.
It could also depend on what you buy. Costco warned members last month it expected delivery delays with small parcels but didn’t expect big items like furniture, grills and appliances to be affected.
What if I wait too long?
Curbside pickup and same-day delivery orders can often be filled within a few hours. Many retailers that didn’t offer those services last year rolled them out after nonessential stores were forced to close during the pandemic.
Orders are filled at nearby stores so they can be ready quickly, though shoppers might not have access to every item a retailer carries.
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Target said customers can place same-day pickup or delivery orders up until two hours before stores close on Dec. 24. Macy’s recommends placing same-day delivery orders by 10 a.m. and pickup orders by 3 p.m. Dec. 24 to ensure fulfillment by Dec. 25.
The services are convenient for last-minute shoppers but they can also reduce strain on delivery networks, since every package picked up or hand-delivered to a shopper’s home is one that doesn’t have to be mailed, said Curt Bimschleger, managing director at Deloitte.
When should I ship my packages?
The U.S. Postal Service, UPS and FedEx all said their shipping deadlines for individuals mailing packages are relatively consistent with last year.
For delivery by Dec. 25, the U.S. Postal Service recommends sending items by First Class service by Dec. 18, Priority Mail by Dec. 19 and Priority Mail Express by Dec. 23.
The last recommended shipping date for UPS Ground depends on the package’s route, but can be as early as Dec. 15. Recommended send-by dates for UPS 3 Day Select, 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air are Dec. 21, 22 and 23, respectively.
FedEx says packages shipped by FedEx Ground or Home Delivery should be sent by Dec. 15. FedEx 2-Day and Overnight packages should be shipped by Dec. 22 and 23, respectively, and FedEx SameDay can be sent on Christmas Day. Those dates could change as the holiday season progresses, according to FedEx’s website.
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lzumbach@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-12-07--Would-be armed robber fatally shot in Goose Island moments after wounding victim, police say

The victim managed to run away after being wounded but told police he heard multiple gunshots fired as he fled @ @ @ @ @ officers found the suspected gunman suffering from numerous gunshot wounds to the body .
He @ @ @ @ @ Hospital where he was pronounced dead , authorities said .

A gunman who shot and wounded another man during an attempted robbery in the Goose Island neighborhood Sunday morning was himself shot and killed moments later, Chicago police said.
The 28-year-old victim of the attempted robbery told police the assailant approached him and announced a robbery about 4:30 a.m. in the 1200 block of West Fry Street just east of the Kennedy Expressway, police said in a news notification. The robber then shot the victim in the leg.
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The victim managed to run away after being wounded but told police he heard multiple gunshots fired as he fled, police said. Police officers found the suspected gunman suffering from numerous gunshot wounds to the body. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.
He was identified Monday as Adan Delgado, 27, of the 1800 block of West Huron Street, according to information from the medical examiner’s office.
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The victim of the attempted robbery was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.
It remains unclear who shot the suspected gunman. Authorities said he didn’t appear to have a criminal history with Chicago police.
No arrests had been made as Belmont Area detectives continue their investigation.


chicagotribune--2020-12-07--Illinois fire marshal warns of fire risk posed by holiday decorations, reminds people to keep trees

Illinois fire marshal warns of fire risk posed by holiday decorations, reminds people to keep trees watered

Perez offered tips for fire safety , including ensuring that decorations are flame retardant , keeping lit candles 12 inches @ @ @ @ @ and replacing light strands that are worn out .
State officials also warned that real @ @ @ @ @ from heat sources and that people should check real trees ’ water levels daily .

The Illinois State Fire Marshal is warning holiday revelers about the dangers of home fires posed by holiday decorations.
Fire Marshal Matt Perez said statistics from the National Fire Protection Association indicate that two out of every five home-decoration fires occur because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.
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More than one-third of home fires are started by candles. Perez said residents should be sure to extinguish all candles before leaving home or retiring for the night.
Perez offered tips for fire safety, including ensuring that decorations are flame retardant, keeping lit candles 12 inches away from anything flammable, and replacing light strands that are worn out. State officials also warned that real trees should be kept away from heat sources and that people should check real trees’ water levels daily.
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Many Chicago-area residents have been putting Christmas trees up early to ease coronavirus-related stress, but having cut trees in homes longer also could pose a fire risk because of an increased chance they might dry out.
Perez will again host the “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign from the state agency’s offices in Springfield and Chicago. From Dec. 1 to Jan. 2, that effort which began in 1954 in Naperville will raise fire safety awareness during the holidays.
Last year, holiday time fires killed 15 people in Illinois, according to state data.


chicagotribune--2020-12-07--‘If nobody knew ... no one would ever know,’ said Michigan woman charged with murder after newborn b

‘If nobody knew ... no one would ever know,’ said Michigan woman charged with murder after newborn boys found in Stickney garbage 17 years ago, according to prosecutors

According to Chicago Tribune reporting at the time , the garbage truck ’ s automated mechanism was dumping the contents @ @ @ @ @ the front trash receptacle when the two tiny male bodies tumbled out , said Marjorie @ @ @ @ @ the sheriff ’ s office , at the time .
The worker , who was @ @ @ @ @ from her cellphone .

A traffic stop in suburban Oak Lawn led to the arrest of a woman who was charged with murdering her newborn twin sons more than 17 years ago, Cook County sheriff’s police announced Saturday.
Antoinette Briley, 41, of Holland, Michigan, was charged Friday night with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of her sons, a Cook County sheriff’s office statement said.
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Judge Susana Ortiz ordered Briley held on $150,000 bond during a hearing Saturday afternoon from the Leighton Criminal Court Building, audio of which was broadcast live on YouTube.
“There was evidence of live birth,” Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Dominique Marshall told the court.
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On June 6, 2003, the victims were discovered by a Waste Management employee who was emptying trash bins in an alley in the 4800 block of South Latrobe Avenue in unincorporated Stickney Township.
As the remains were found in the trash, one of the babies’ placentas was attached to the baby and another was found near the other infant “inside a black shoebox,” Marshall said.
After Ortiz told Briley a public defender had been appointed to defend her, Briley said, “Yes, ma’am,” with an audible sniffle, her voice cracking.
According to Marshall, Briley began to bleed and feel pain and cramping while alone at her grandparents’ home, so she got into the shower to “ease the pain.”
Moments later, while in the waterless bathtub, she began giving birth to the babies, Marshall said.
They started whimpering.
“They were both crying when they were born, she said, but not crying so loud that neighbors could hear,” Marshall said, quoting Briley.
“Panicking,” Briley grabbed a duffle bag and, without wiping the babies off, she placed them in the bag, got in her car and decided to drive them to a hospital, but her mind raced, she had a change of heart.
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Briley told herself: “If nobody knew … no one would ever know” about their births, Marshall said.
She pulled into an alley, took the babies out of the bag, placed them into a garbage bin, drove back to her grandparents’ home and threw away the duffle bag.
After trashing the duffle bag, she took a shower, got into bed and watched television.
“She wishes she could take the whole day back,” Marshall said, quoting Briley, adding Briley wished she had “kept going to the hospital.”
The scene shortly after the discovery in 2003 in Stickey. (Cook County sheriff's office)
According to Chicago Tribune reporting at the time, the garbage truck’s automated mechanism was dumping the contents of the 75-gallon can into the front trash receptacle when the two tiny male bodies tumbled out, said Marjorie O’Dea, of the sheriff’s office, at the time. The worker, who was not named, called police from her cellphone.
“We’re talking to neighbors to see if anyone saw anything, and we’ve talked to several pregnant women in the area,” O’Dea said at the time.
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An autopsy the next day by the Cook County medical examiner’s office determined the victims were born alive and died of asphyxiation. Their deaths were ruled homicides.
The case remained unsolved until Thursday, when sheriff’s police received a lead that Briley was in Cook County and took her into custody after a traffic stop in Oak Lawn.
Antoinette Briley (Cook County Sheriff's Office)
In 2018, police reopened the case and used DNA from evidence taken from the scene in an effort to identify the birth mother using new developments in genetic genealogy, police said. A breakthrough from that research and later probes allowed detectives to eventually identify Briley as the victims’ potential birth mother.
On July 2, 2020, police detectives who traveled to Holland, Michigan, watched Briley drop a cigarette to the ground. Its butt was placed into evidence, and ended up being a match to the DNA found on the babies and was consistent with coming from Briley, Marshall said.
Briley’s public defender, Courtney Smallwood, said Briley lives with her 12-year-old daughter and has a full-time job, working 60 to 70 hours a week as an assembly worker. She had no criminal background, and there were no witnesses to the alleged incident, Smallwood added.
Briley has been “an active member of society,” Smallwood said. “She’s not a danger to society or flight risk.”
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Briley will be in court next week in Bridgeview.
Chief Leo Schmitz of the Cook County sheriff’s department held a news conference after the hearing, applauding the work of detectives on the case who used “genetic genealogy.”
“Two twins died 17 years ago ... we handled the case back then, we felt a void because we couldn’t find out who who did it,” Schmitz said. “We never gave up.”
“I am happy there is closure for the twins,” said Cook County sheriff’s detective Ginny Georgantas, one of the detectives on the case.
Check back for details.
rsobol@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-12-07--Daywatch: What could happen if there’s a COVID-19 vaccine shortage, a lack of substitute teachers re

Daywatch: What could happen if there’s a COVID-19 vaccine shortage, a lack of substitute teachers reaches crisis levels and what experience gifts look like now

An acute shortage of influenza vaccine gripped the country in the fall of 2004 , forcing the elderly to wait @ @ @ @ @ dose .
But even as Illinois flu clinics closed for want of the vaccine , @ @ @ @ @ through their prescribing physician and offered them to players — young men in superb physical @ @ @ @ @ the rationing guidelines established by federal health officials .

Good morning, Chicago. Illinois public health officials on Sunday reported 7,598 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 76 additional deaths. A day earlier, Illinois officials reported 208 deaths and crossed the 13,000 mark for COVID-19 fatalities, a little more than a week after marking 12,000 deaths.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 fatalities hit a new record in Illinois nursing homes on Friday. A Tribune analysis found the surge in deaths was particularly steep outside the greater Chicago area, underscoring the challenges of keeping the virus out of long-term care facilities.
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Here’s more coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
For your smart speaker | Holiday gift guide | Join our COVID-19 Facebook group | More newsletters | Puzzles & Games
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Georgia Kotinas, 85, protests in 2004 at the Thompson Center in Chicago over the shortage of flu vaccines available for senior citizens. (David Klobucar / Chicago Tribune)
An acute shortage of influenza vaccine gripped the country in the fall of 2004, forcing the elderly to wait in hourslong lines for a dose. But even as Illinois flu clinics closed for want of the vaccine, the Chicago Bears obtained shots through their prescribing physician and offered them to players — young men in superb physical condition who fell far outside the rationing guidelines established by federal health officials.
That was just one small part of a national ruckus over the vaccine that lasted for months. Along with cries of unfairness came reports of more sinister matters such as theft, smuggling and price gouging. As America prepares to distribute another scarce vaccine, some are wary that history could repeat.
Sharon Nelles, an Literacy & Social Emotional Learning Coordinator, works with first graders as a substitute Partner Teacher at Patton Elementary School in Arlington Heights on Dec. 3, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
A nationwide shortage of substitute teachers was a chronic problem long before the arrival of the pandemic. But now, a dearth of available subs across the Chicago area has reached a crisis level at many school districts, where the roster of educators available to step in when teachers are absent has dwindled sharply. Many have told school officials the extra income isn’t worth the health risk.
The Donald Schroud site in the Hegewisch neighborhood in Chicago is shown Sept. 28, 2018. Last year, this parcel became the city’s newest Superfund site, a federal designation reserved for the nation’s most contaminated properties. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
During the last years of Chicago’s once-mighty steel industry, a clout-heavy developer seized an opportunity to make millions while offering the city’s beleaguered Southeast Side a glimmer of hope.
Donald Schroud vowed to create hundreds of jobs by building an industrial park and sports complex on a swath of heavily polluted land he bought in 1994 from one of the last steel companies operating along the Calumet River.
Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky watches the final seconds tick away in the fourth quarter. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Here are Bears writer Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts after the Chicago Bears reached their longest losing streak since 2002, dropping their sixth straight game in stunning fashion in a 34-30 loss to Detroit Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field.
Former and current Bears sound off on Twitter after the 34-30 loss to the Lions
The Chopping Block's Lisa Counts teaches a virtual sushi making class. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Finding the perfect gift is always hard. This holiday season poses a whole new set of dilemmas for people who prefer to give memorable experiences rather than stuff.


chicagotribune--2020-12-06--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Here’s what happened Dec. 5-6 with COVID-19 in the Chicago area

After testing positive and first beginning to quarantine , the 34-year-old also felt fatigued , had a congested nose , @ @ @ @ @ breath that he compared to feeling like he ran outside during a cold Chicago day @ @ @ @ @ to reporters during a video call from his hotel room on Sunday morning , he @ @ @ @ @ and his symptoms were behind him .

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)
Illinois public health officials on Sunday reported 7,598 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 76 additional deaths.
That brings the state’s total to 787,573 confirmed and probable cases and 13,255 fatalities since the pandemic began.
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A day earlier, Illinois officials reported 208 deaths and crossed the 13,000 mark for COVID-19 fatalities, a little more than a week after marking 12,000 deaths.
The numbers illustrate just how bad the pandemic has gotten here. Illinois has recorded more coronavirus deaths than any other state in the seven days ending Saturday, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only Illinois and Texas have more than 1,000 deaths in that timeframe.
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Additionally, former state Sen. Martin Sandoval, who pleaded guilty in January to political corruption, has died from COVID-19 complications, his attorney said Saturday.
Sandoval, who was cooperating with federal authorities, was in the hospital before his death, said attorney Dylan Smith, who added that he spoke with the former lawmaker’s family.
Meanwhile, Illinois plans to distribute its initial allocation of roughly 109,000 doses of a new COVID-19 vaccine to the 50 counties across the state with the highest death rates from the virus, the state’s top public health official said Friday.
In the Chicago area, that includes Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and Will counties. It also includes Kankakee County but not McHenry.
First, though, the Pfizer vaccine needs emergency use authorization from the federal Food and Drug Administration, which could come as soon as Thursday. If that happens, Illinois expects to receive its first shipment sometime during the week of Dec. 13.
Here’s what’s happening this weekend with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
Sunday
7,598 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases, 76 additional deaths reported
Illinois public health officials on Sunday reported 7,598 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 76 additional deaths.
That brings the state’s total to 787,573 confirmed and probable cases and 13,255 fatalities since the pandemic began.
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There were 79,538 tests performed in the previous 24 hours. The statewide positivity rate for the previous seven days is 11.8%.
Bulls’ Garrett Temple is quarantining in his hotel room after testing positive for COVID-19
Chicago Bulls guard Garrett Temple is quarantining in his hotel room in Chicago after testing positive for COVID-19 last Saturday.
Through contract tracing, Temple, a free-agent acquisition by the Bulls this offseason, said he believes he contracted the virus while in Louisiana during Thanksgiving. He does not usually get headaches, so once he started feeling one in the days after, he figured something might be up.
After testing positive and first beginning to quarantine, the 34-year-old also felt fatigued, had a congested nose, a cough and shortness of breath that he compared to feeling like he ran outside during a cold Chicago day. But as he spoke to reporters during a video call from his hotel room on Sunday morning, he said he felt much better and his symptoms were behind him.
He was hopeful to rejoin the Bulls for practice by Wednesday or sometime during the middle of the week once he records two negative results.
Read more here. —Jamal Collier
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Saturday
Maria Lopez, wife of beloved 911 dispatcher Lupe Lopez, also dies of COVID-related issues. ‘They fought to stay here with us,’ daughter says
The adult children of 911 dispatcher Lupe Lopez, who died last month of COVID-19, thought their mother, Maria, 56, was going to pull through the virus and rejoin them at home. But overnight Saturday, she was pronounced dead at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, said daughter Erica.
“It’s a sad ending to a beautiful love story,” Erica Lopez said Saturday afternoon from her parents’ home. “I accepted it. I love God. I am not angry with him. I am angry at the selfish person who did not wear a mask and infected my father.”
The couple first battled their COVID-19 infection together at home, until it worsened and they had to be hospitalized. Erica, who is the oldest of the couple’s three children, said they are cleaning up their parents’ home before they make arrangements for Maria’s funeral.
“It looks like ground zero from the front to back. Medicine bottles everywhere, tissue. It really shows how hard they fought to stay here with us. My dad really fought to make sure my mother beat this virus,” Erica Lopez said.
Read more here. —Deanese Williams-Harris
Report: Singer Jeremih released from Northwestern Memorial Hospital after undergoing COVID-19 treatment
Chicago singer Jeremih has been released from the hospital after undergoing treatment for COVID-19.
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According to ABC 7 Chicago, Jeremih was discharged from Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Friday night, accompanied by his mother.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank God and the incredible team of doctors and nurses at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for saving my life,” Jeremih told ABC 7 Chicago. “I will be forever grateful.”
Read more here. —Variety
Testing bipartisanship, Biden urges Congress to compromise on COVID-19 pandemic relief bill
President-elect Joe Biden is trying to help break a monthslong deadlock in Congress over a new installment of pandemic relief, testing his aspiration to preside over a new era of bipartisan cooperation in Washington, even before he takes office.
Biden seized Friday on a grim new report on unemployment to amplify his call for Congress to act on a bipartisan $900-billion relief bill that emerged this week — half the size of a package that Democrats wanted but twice as much as Republicans have proposed.
“If we don’t act now, the future will be very bleak,” Biden said, speaking to reporters in Wilmington, Delaware. “Americans need help and they need it now, and they’ll need more to come early next year. But I must tell you, I am encouraged by the bipartisan efforts in the Senate around a $900-billion package of relief.”
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Read more here. —Los Angeles Times
Illinois surpasses 13,000 COVID-19 deaths, just eight days after reaching 12,000
Illinois moved past 13,000 COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, just eight days after marking 12,000 deaths.
The numbers illustrate just how bad the pandemic has gotten here. Illinois has recorded more coronavirus deaths than any other state in the last seven days, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only Illinois and Texas have more than 1,000 deaths in last seven days.
Read more here. —Chicago Tribune staff
9,887 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases and 208 additional deaths reported
Illinois health officials on Saturday announced 9,887 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 208 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known infections in Illinois to 779,975 and the statewide death toll to 13,179 since the start of the pandemic.
—Chicago Tribune staff
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Ex-state Sen. Martin Sandoval, who pleaded guilty to political corruption, dies from COVID-19, attorney says
Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval, who pleaded guilty in January to political corruption, has died from COVID-19 complications, his attorney said Saturday.
Sandoval, who was cooperating with federal authorities, was in the hospital before his death, said attorney Dylan Smith, who added that he spoke with the former lawmaker’s family.
“I was very proud to have represented Martin Sandoval. While he may have strayed from the standard he set for himself, he was making a genuine effort to make amends for his mistakes through his cooperation with the government and its ongoing investigation,” Smith said.
“(Sandoval) was someone of considerable ability who had done a great deal of good in his life,” Smith added.
Sandoval, the former Senate Transportation Committee chairman, pleaded guilty to bribery and tax charges in a 27-page plea agreement that laid bare a striking level of greed, even in a state accustomed to elected officials going off to prison for trading political power for cash.
Read more here. —Jason Meisner
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CDC says people should wear masks indoors as COVID-19 infections spread at record levels in United States
Americans should be wearing a mask indoors whenever they’re outside their own home, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending, as coronavirus infections continue to spread at record levels in the United States — reaching a new daily high of nearly 228,000 cases on Friday.
The 227,885 cases eclipse the previous high of more than 217,000 on Thursday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Read more here. —Bloomberg News


chicagotribune--2020-12-08--15-year-old boy shot dead near alley on Far South Side

Isaiah Wade was shot in the head just before 2:30 p.m. in the 10000 block of South Perry Avenue in @ @ @ @ @ said .

A sophomore at Mount Carmel High School was shot to death outside his Far South Side home, prompting Chicago’s cardinal to release a statement mourning “another young life cut short by senseless violence.”
Isaiah Wade, 15, was shot in the head just before 2:30 p.m. Monday in the 10000 block of South Perry Avenue where he lived in the Fernwood neighborhood, police said.
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Isaiah Wade (Mount Carmel High School handout/Mount Carmel High School handout)
Responding officers found him lying in an alley near his home. Five shell casings were found in a backyard nearby and there were bullet holes in several garages, police said.
The boy’s mother told police she believed her son was chatting with someone on social media and might have been lured outside. Police said they recovered the boy’s cellphone.
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“Another family left to mourn, forever altered,” Cardinal Blase Cupich said in a statement. “Mt. Carmel High School is a close community and we keep Isaiah, his family, friends and school staff in our prayers during this unimaginably heartbreaking time.”
The school released a statement saying “may the Saints of Carmel welcome Isaiah into eternal life and may Our Lady of Mount Carmel watch over Isaiah’s family and friends during this most difficult time. Isaiah will be greatly missed.”
No suspects were in custody. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.


chicagotribune--2020-12-08--Daywatch: Pritzker says next month ‘most crucial’ for COVID, teachers seek to stop CPS reopening pla

Daywatch: Pritzker says next month ‘most crucial’ for COVID, teachers seek to stop CPS reopening plan and Chicago’s best soups

In other news , with the holidays around the corner , retailers are warning that that online orders could take @ @ @ @ @ .
Here ’ s what to know to make sure gifts arrive on time .

Good morning, Chicago. On Monday, Illinois health officials announced 8,691 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 90 additional fatalities. In Chicago, the seven-day positivity rate increased to 12.5%.
In other news, with the holidays around the corner, retailers are warning that that online orders could take longer than usual to arrive. Here’s what to know to make sure gifts arrive on time.
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Here’s more coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
For your smart speaker | Holiday gift guide | Join our COVID-19 Facebook group | More newsletters | Puzzles & Games
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Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, speaks alongside Gov. J.B. Pritzker during a daily coronavirus press conference, Dec. 1., 2020, at the Thompson Center. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Illinois is entering what could be “the most crucial month of this entire pandemic,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday, a period bookended by Thanksgiving and a string of December holidays traditionally marked by gatherings that carry the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
Though the state has recently seen a slight decrease in the hospitalization rate for COVID-19, patients it’s still 14% higher than the spring peak during the initial surge of the pandemic.
Wrigleyville Ald. Tom Tunney allowed diners inside his Ann Sather restaurant in violation of COVID-19 rules, calls it an ‘error in judgment’
Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson announces the district’s goal to phase in school-based learning for the district’s most vulnerable students at CPS headquarters on Oct. 16, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
On decision day for parents and teachers of Chicago Public Schools students tapped to return for in-person classes in the new year, the Chicago Teachers Union announced it had filed a legal action seeking to prevent the district from moving forward with its reopening plan.
Developer Eterra Plus proposes two towers that would replace a parking structure at 525 S. Wabash Ave. (BKV Group / HANDOUT)
COVID-19 has slowed Chicago’s economy, but two bullish developers have drawn up ambitious plans that would bring a combined 1,200 apartments to two city neighborhoods.
The plans would add three new towers downtown, the tallest reaching 47 stories, plus 300-plus hotel rooms and retail space. They were disclosed by 42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly in an email to constituents Friday.
Teacher Rosa Carrasquillo, left, looks on as Jessica Desarden picks up her son from day care in Chicago on Dec. 3, 2020. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
When the pandemic forced many day care centers across the city to close, it created a hardship for many local families and added even more difficulty to some who had already faced a tough time finding care in their communities.
Child care challenges in predominantly Latino Chicago communities were noted in a recent University of Chicago Chapin Hall report. The report showed that 86% of Latino families in Illinois live in child care deserts.
Food & Dining reporter Nick Kindelsperger celebrates Chicago's best soups with a roundup of 13 styles and dozens of suggestions for the best, including, clockwise from left, carne en su jugo at Taqueria Los Gallos #2, borscht at Shokolad Pastry & Cafe and gumbo from Nita’s Gumbo. (Nick Kindelsperger/Chicago Tribune)
With December here and the continued chaos of the pandemic not going away soon, the idea of grabbing a spoon and slurping your way through a steaming bowl of goodness sounds about right. Here are the soups across the city that the Tribune’s Nick Kindelsperger recommends.


chicagotribune--2020-12-08--Chicago police release video of suspects in deadly carjacking of retired firefighter. Reward tops $3

Chicago police release video of suspects in deadly carjacking of retired firefighter. Reward tops $30,000

Holmes appealed to the families , friends and even incarcerated relatives of the shooters , asking them to turn them @ @ @ @ @ , take a close look at this video .
If you know this is your @ @ @ @ @ detectives , call any of us , ” he said .
“ Because sooner or @ @ @ @ @ going to get a knock at your door .
And you ’ ll wish you @ @ @ @ @ ”

Chicago police released video Monday evening that showed the gunmen who fatally shot a 65-year-old retired firefighter during an attempted carjacking, as community activists announced that contributions to a reward for the suspects’ capture had grown to about $34,000.
The 84-second clip aired from the Chicago public safety headquarters showed Dwain Williams, 65, quickly darting behind his maroon Jeep Grand Cherokee as three men exited the dark-colored Ford Fusion near the Let’s Get Poppin popcorn shop in the 11700 block of South Western Avenue last Thursday.
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As the three men began circling Williams, he drew his own gun and fired shots at one gunman, who stumbled to the pavement before returning fire. At least two of the gunmen fired shots before fleeing back to the rolling Fusion that had been reported stolen and was later found abandoned in south suburban Tinley Park, police said.
The video didn’t show the shot that struck Williams in the abdomen, killing him.
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“We’re asking the community to view the video, slow it down, share it with everyone,” police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan told reporters during a news conference broadcast from the public safety headquarters.
Deenihan said he was confident that the gunmen could be identified through the video and encouraged the public to offer their tips. Deenihan said police had seen video that made them believe the gunmen had spotted Williams’ vehicle prior to the shooting and followed him to the scene.
“The motive is carjacking. There’s not another motive,” Deenihan said. “They were trying to take this individual’s car.” He said the gunmen were possibly involved in other auto-related crimes, adding that CPD was working with south suburban police departments in the investigation.
Early Walker, founder of the anti-violence group I’m Telling, Don’t Shoot, stood with activist Andrew Holmes announcing his group, along with concerned business owners, were donating $10,000 to reward money already raised by Holmes and the pastor of St. Sabina, the Rev. Michael Pfleger. The total stood around $34,000, but a portion of Walker’s donation could be given to tipsters immediately.
“Here it is, he was trying to get some popcorn and his life was taken over a vehicle,” Walker said.
Holmes appealed to the families, friends and even incarcerated relatives of the shooters, asking them to turn them in. “Family members, take a close look at this video. If you know this is your loved ones, call the detectives, call any of us,” he said. “Because sooner or later, you’re going to get a knock at your door. And you’ll wish you (would have).”
After stopping at his favorite popcorn shop on Thursday afternoon, authorities said Williams was walking toward his maroon Jeep Grand Cherokee in the 2400 block of West 118th Street when a black car slowed down and three people jumped out, all of them with guns. Police believe the three were trying to steal Williams’ Jeep.
As they walked toward him, Williams pulled a revolver from his waistband and exchanged fire with them outside the store, authorities said.
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He was hit once in the abdomen and collapsed. The gunmen piled back into their car and sped off down Artesian Avenue. The shooting apparently happened so quickly the car was still moving when the attackers jumped in, the police report said.
Responding officers found Williams lying on the pavement next to his Jeep, his revolver close by. It was not known if any of the attackers were hit, but police recovered shell casings from their guns: 9 mm, .40-caliber and .38-caliber.
Family, friends and co-workers remembered Williams as an accomplished chess player and musician who performed in a band of fellow firefighters.
“He put his whole heart into the city,” said his wife, Karen Armstrong-Williams.
Two of the gunmen wore dark hooded sweatshirts and pants with white sneakers, one with a red face mask and the third man wore a blue hooded sweatshirt with white trim, light-colored pants and white sneakers.
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at (312) 747-8271, or leave anonymous tips at www.CPDTIP.com.


chicagotribune--2020-12-08--‘If I can’t find someone to take care of them, how would I work to provide for them?’ U. of C. study

‘If I can’t find someone to take care of them, how would I work to provide for them?’ U. of C. study highlights child care barriers in Chicago’s Latino communities.

Lemos , who has been working since she had her first child , said she relied on her mother for @ @ @ @ @ her daughter because she could not afford and did not trust home day cares in @ @ @ @ @ second child was born , she decided to seek a child care center to alleviate @ @ @ @ @ , but after a while , she didn ’ t feel comfortable leaving her son @

When Jessica Desarden, 32, became a mother seven years ago, one of her concerns was finding the appropriate day care to look after her children when she went back to work.
Desarden, a nurse living in the Belmont Cragin area, said she quickly realized there were not many child care centers near her home.
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“Good child care that’s affordable is not very easily found around here,” she said on a recent weeknight after work.
Luckily, Desarden was referred to a center that is affordable and close to home, where she now drops off her 4-year-old while her 7-year-old is at school.
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Teacher Rosa Carrasquillo, left, looks on as Jessica Desarden picks up her son from day care in Chicago on Dec. 3, 2020. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
However, many parents haven’t been as fortunate.
When the pandemic forced many day care centers across the city to close, it created a hardship for many local families and added even more difficulty to some who had already faced a tough time finding care in their communities.
Child care challenges in predominantly Latino Chicago communities were noted in a recent University of Chicago Chapin Hall report. The report showed that 86% of Latino families in Illinois live in child care deserts.
Researchers spoke to child care center directors and 32 Latina mothers who live in Belmont Cragin on the Northwest Side and Little Village on the West Side with at least one child under age 5. Mothers said they wanted more child care information and cited barriers such as access (bilingual resources are not always available), cost and convenience. Little Village moms said there were not many programs near their homes. Belmont Cragin moms shared their experiences of being waitlisted or referred elsewhere.
The researchers did not screen participants based on gender but ultimately interviewed solely mothers, who often are the main caregivers in Latino families. Researchers asked questions about family perspective and wanted to reflect Latino family experiences as a whole. Of the 32 mothers surveyed, 22 used some form of nonparental child care, including pre-K and community-based programs, or a relative who watched children.
Finding child care a parent trusts requires much time and effort. Moms asked neighbors or friends or searched online for info. Some found information from fliers at community centers or a posting from a friend at church. Like many parents, they considered logistics, safety and the specific needs of their children.
While the parent interviews were recorded between 2018 and 2019, researcher Aida Pacheco-Applegate said COVID-19 has only amplified the challenges. The study notes how the pandemic has laid bare what communities of color already face: health disparities.
She said they embarked upon this research after realizing there was a lack of data on Latino communities. Although the challenges may be similar to those of parents in other communities, Latino families also may have the added stressors of language barriers or legal status.
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“They don’t have information about the options they have,” she said.
Through her role as a parent mentor at her son’s school, Ana Barron, 30, a Belmont Cragin mom with a 7-year-old son and infant daughter, often talks with other parents about child care, which she said, in Spanish, is “the iceberg of all the issues and needs in our community.”
Even before the pandemic, many parents were forced to leave their children in the care of family members and, sometimes, even depend on their older children to take care of the younger ones, Barron said. “That’s a common practice within the Latino community, because a day care is not affordable nor accessible,” she said.
Parents know, she added, that leaving their children with older kids isn’t ideal, but have no other options.
The pandemic exacerbated child care needs because many parents could not leave their children with their grandparents or other older adults, whom they often lean on, for fear of spreading the virus.
And since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Chicago area, even parents who had managed to access and pay for child care in the past, were forced to find an alternative, leave work or cut their hours because they couldn’t enroll their kids due to a cap on the number of kids allowed, Barron said.
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“COVID-19 made matter worse,” said Mayra Lemos, 28, a single mother of two who works as a cashier at a grocery store near her home in Belmont Cragin. Since the pandemic hit, her mother and sister help her to take care of her 9-year-old daughter and her 4-year-old son.
Lemos, who has been working since she had her first child, said she relied on her mother for help to take care of her daughter because she could not afford and did not trust home day cares in the area. When her second child was born, she decided to seek a child care center to alleviate the burden on her family, but after a while, she didn’t feel comfortable leaving her son.
Around her home, she said, there are plenty of home day cares but few child care centers. Many have hours that do not correlate with her work hours. Ideally, she said, she would like to have more child care centers with trained caretakers where she can feel comfortable leaving her children.
Prepandemic, she was able to take her daughter to school while she was at work and only had to worry about the needs of her son. However, now Lemos worries that her mother cannot help her son with e-learning. She wonders what she would do without her mother and sister.
“It worries me because if I can’t find someone to take care of them, how would I work to provide for them?” she said. “It’s hard; it is all a sacrifice.”
The Chapin Hill report noted a disparity in options. For example, in Belmont Cragin, there were 13 licensed centers and 62 licensed family child care homes — a total of 6,695 slots. But despite having a similar population, Little Village had just five licensed centers and 19 licensed family child care homes — a total of 1,886 slots. These numbers don’t include unlicensed or license-exempt homes.
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Finding a place parents trusted was paramount.
“Those things are super important to them,” Pacheco-Applegate said. “But then, because of the lack of information, and they don’t know how these programs work, some of them didn’t trust these programs.”
Even when people found child care centers, barriers included a lack of transparent information about cost, and public programs with complex eligibility requirements.
Some parents assume that child care is too expensive or that they would not qualify for financial assistance. Financial options vary. One child care program had an emergency fund offering families up to $500; another offered a scholarship program where families can enroll while they look for work.
Pacheco-Applegate said more parents could benefit from the state Child Care Assistance Program, which can offset costs. Many mothers said their family income was just above the threshold to qualify, or would be if they worked. The report suggests raising income eligibility limits for two-parent households.
Particularly for parents paid in cash, providing proof of work and income can be intimidating. And day care directors said that after the 2016 election, enrollment declined as undocumented parents feared sharing their status.
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To help bridge the gap of information and affordability for families, researchers recommend Chicago provide more options in communities that need them and universal pre-K programs.
Many mothers suggested a community guide. Libraries, home visiting programs and health clinics could feature information in directories, the report suggested, which should be regularly updated and bilingual. Hiring child care workers from within the neighborhood could alleviate safety concerns; so could outreach to parents, or offering open houses.
In the report, the moms interviewed confirmed the importance that families place on parental care, a feeling that mothers should be home with young children. Even when mothers wanted to work outside the home, some said it wouldn’t be worth it because their wages would go to child care.
“I don’t think anybody really makes the decision like, I’m gonna stay at home or I’m gonna work,” a Little Village mother told researchers. “It’s like, I have to stay at home ‘cause I can’t afford to be at work and pay for child care, or I have to work ‘cause I can’t afford not to work.”
In many Latino families, multiple family members live together, so grandparents help with child care. Or they might use another family member, friend or neighbor. But Pacheco-Applegate said that still, they found even if parents did not send children to day care, they wanted the option.
“We found that, actually, no, they want to put their kids in child care,” Pacheco-Applegate said. “They want kids to improve their social skills, to hang out.”
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abowen@chicagotribune.com
larodriguez@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-12-08--Column: The Bears lose 6 games in a row AND Trump loses the election? No way. It’s all a conspiracy!

And there ’ s more just like that .
Marlene ( REDACTED ) of ( REDACTED ) said she “ @ @ @ @ @ Jewel to pick up another box of wine ” on Sunday and the Bears were @ @ @ @ @ but when she got back , the Bears were losing .
From her statement : @ @ @ @ @ believe the Bears were beating the Lions at Soldier Field and then wound up losing @ @ @ @ @ the chances of that happening are ?
Zero .
ZE-RO !
Zero .
No way @ @ @ @ @ have you looked at what they aren ’ t showing on the broadcast ?
Have @ @ @ @ @ .
You know what it is ?
It ’ s the Bears scoring .
They @ @ @ @ @ all the times the Bears scored on TV , and then they only count the @ @ @ @ @ ’ s FAKE !
Totally fake .
And I can prove it , because Len @ @ @ @ @ me my boxed wine told me .
”

Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson walks off the field after the alleged 34-30 loss to the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on Dec. 6, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Some believe the Chicago Bears have lost six games in a row. Not me.
Inspired by President Donald Trump’s fight against the so-called “certified results that show he lost the election,” I’m pushing back against the false narrative that the Bears have lost six consecutive games and now have a 5-7 record.
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It’s a complete lie propagated by anti-happiness Chicago liberals and their enablers in the FAKE sports news media.
The Chicago Bears are, in fact, undefeated and an odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl.
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That’s why, in an effort to restore American’s faith in the National Football League’s scorekeeping process, a central tenet of our democracy, I am demanding a recount of the scoring in all of this season’s Bears games. I am also filing a series of lawsuits that show evidence of WIDESPREAD scoring fraud, mysterious late-game “touchdown dumps” and foreign influence that stretches back to former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a notorious fan of the Green Bay Packers and socialism.
Since Trump-supporting attorneys Sidney Powell and Lin Wood have described their onslaught of legal cases challenging the result of the 2020 election as “releasing the Kraken,” I’m forced to go with a different mythical sea monster. In defending the Bears, I will be “releasing the Jörmungandr,” a sea serpent from Norse mythology.
First, allow me to present a brief outline of my case.
If you examine the so-called scores of the past six Bears game — against the Rams, Saints, Titans, Vikings, Packers and Lions — you will find the total points scored by the Bears is 118. The total points scored by Chicago’s opponents is 168. That’s a difference of exactly 50 points. Doesn’t that seem a bit suspicious? Why would the point differential be EXACTLY 50 points? Are we supposed to believe that’s just some crazy coincidence?
I think not.
Further confirming the anti-Bears conspiracy is the fact that you can use letters from the names of the Bears’ last six opponents to spell words that include: internationalism, socialism and anticapitalists.
Boom! Jörmungandr released.
Some will ask: OK, if this is a conspiracy, what actually happened and what were the real scores of all these Bears games?
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It’s pretty simple. I have collected hundreds of affidavits from eyewitnesses and RESPECTED EXPERTS in the field of football, and it all points to massive scoring fraud and eye-popping skulduggery.
For example, Gus (REDACTED) from (REDACTED) said he was tailgating outside Soldier Field during the Nov. 1 game against the New Orleans Saints. While Gus never entered the stadium and acknowledges he was “napping” throughout the fourth quarter, he said in a sworn statement: “I woke up and I see this mope walkin’ by and I says, ‘Da Bears win?’ And this guy, he says, ‘Yeah, Bears won. Big.’ So I’m all happy and I head home and then you know what I seen on the TV? Bears lost 26-23 in overtime. And I’m like, ‘Dat don’t seem right. Guy in da parking told me they won. What gives?’ Somebody’s lyin’ here, and I don’t think it’s dat guy in da lot cause he seemed legit.”
And there’s more just like that. Marlene (REDACTED) of (REDACTED) said she “had just run to the Jewel to pick up another box of wine” on Sunday and the Bears were beating the Detroit Lions, but when she got back, the Bears were losing. From her statement: “You want me to believe the Bears were beating the Lions at Soldier Field and then wound up losing? Do you know what the chances of that happening are? Zero. ZE-RO! Zero. No way. And I know … have you looked at what they aren’t showing on the broadcast? Have you? Because I have. You know what it is? It’s the Bears scoring. They don’t show you all the times the Bears scored on TV, and then they only count the scores they broadcast. It’s FAKE! Totally fake. And I can prove it, because Len at the Jewel who sells me my boxed wine told me.”
Based on such irrefutable statements, and on other evidence I have but won’t show you, I can prove the Bears won each of the past six games by comfortable margins and that in the Nov. 16 game against the Minnesota Vikings, former Bears coach Mike Ditka played AND caught 12 touchdown passes.
Why do people not hear about these things? Because they don’t want people to hear about them. (If you don’t know who “they” is, then you’re probably one of they.)
Like the Trump-supporting attorneys who critics claim have “lost nearly 50 election-fraud lawsuits already,” I will not be deterred.
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A federal judge in Michigan on Monday struck down Powell’s request to decertify the state’s election result, saying: “A belief is not evidence.”
Oh really, Judge Deep State? Is that so? Then how do you explain Newt Gingrich, who I know is smart because I see him on TV all the time, saying of the election results in Georgia: “The objective fact is I believe Trump probably did actually carry Georgia.”
If Gingrich believes that something “probably did actually” happen, then that makes it an objective fact. Duh. That’s just common sense, folks.
I believe the Chicago Bears won the past six games. Trump and his team of attorneys believe he won the election.
You can’t tell me one is more ridiculous than the other.
(If you hated this column, and you certainly should have, why not join the third annual Insult-A-Columnist Holiday Food Drive and make a donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository under the RexStinks team name? Or, if you liked the column, you can hop on Team RexRocks. Either way, you help feed people struggling to make ends meet. Just go to: https://www.myfooddrive.org/#InsultRex.)
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rhuppke@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-12-08--Pritzker says next 4 weeks could be ‘the most crucial month of this entire pandemic’

“ It ’ s likely too early for us to have yet seen the bulk of Thanksgiving-related hospitalizations .
We @ @ @ @ @ 11th day since Thanksgiving and we are four days out from Hanukkah and 18 days @ @ @ @ @ from Kwanzaa , 24 from New Year ’ s Eve , ” Pritzker said Monday @ @ @ @ @ weeks may be the most crucial month of this entire pandemic .
We quite literally @ @ @ @ @ our hospital systems to manage another surge .
”

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)
Illinois is entering what could be “the most crucial month of this entire pandemic,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday, a period bookended by Thanksgiving and a string of December holidays traditionally marked by gatherings that carry the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
Though the state has recently seen a slight decrease in the hospitalization rate for COVID-19 patients, it’s still 14% higher than the spring peak during the initial surge of the pandemic.
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“It’s likely too early for us to have yet seen the bulk of Thanksgiving-related hospitalizations. We’re now in our 11th day since Thanksgiving and we are four days out from Hanukkah and 18 days from Christmas, 19 days from Kwanzaa, 24 from New Year’s Eve,” Pritzker said Monday. “These next four weeks may be the most crucial month of this entire pandemic. We quite literally have very limited leeway in our hospital systems to manage another surge.”
As of Sunday night, 5,190 people across the state were hospitalized with COVID-19, with 1,123 of those patients in intensive care units and 648 on ventilators. The total number of people hospitalized statewide with COVID-19 was more than 5,800 a week earlier, and had surpassed 6,000 for more than a week in November.
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Officials should have a better sense later this week and into next week of whether Thanksgiving led to a major spike in coronavirus cases, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said.
The state on Monday reported 8,691 newly confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, and 90 additional deaths. The state is now reporting 796,264 known and probable cases, and a death toll of 13,343 throughout the course of the pandemic.
The new and probable cases reported Monday came out of a batch of 77,569 tests, and the seven-day statewide positivity rate for cases as a share of total tests conducted was 10.3% for the period ending Sunday.
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, speaks alongside Gov. J.B. Pritzker during a daily coronavirus news conference Nov. 4, 2020, at the Thompson Center. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
Pritzker and Ezike defended the state’s plan for distributing the first shipment of a coronavirus vaccine to the 50 of Illinois’ 102 counties with the highest per capita death rates, which they presented publicly on Friday.
The state’s plan identified 10 regional hub hospitals from which the vaccine’s initial shipment will be distributed to those 50 counties, with front-line health care workers considered the top priority for being inoculated. But several of the downstate hub locations, including hospitals in Peoria, Springfield and Champaign, are in counties that aren’t on the list of 50.
And some of the state’s least populous counties that are among the 50 don’t have a hospital within their borders. Ezike said officials can identify which hospitals residents from those counties use and distribute the vaccine to front-line health care workers there.
There may be more tweaks to the state’s distribution plan before vaccines, which still await the required federal approvals, actually arrive. The intention behind designating the 50 counties with the highest per capita death rates was to prioritize the areas of the state that have suffered the most during the pandemic, Ezike said.
“I think that most people would agree that a proxy for seeing the most suffering in a county would be the most deaths in that county, and not trying to discriminate against counties that might be smaller so their number of deaths would look insignificant compared to larger populated counties,” she said.
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State officials have estimated that Illinois will see 109,000 doses in the first shipment, and could see hundreds of thousands of doses by Jan. 1, with top priority given to front-line health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities.
jmunks@chicagotribune.com