chicagotribune--2020-03-23--Mythical March Madness: We’re playing out a projected NCAA Tournament bracket — and there was a big

Mythical March Madness: We’re playing out a projected NCAA Tournament bracket — and there was a big first-round upset

Obi Toppin displayed his dazzling dunks to help the Flyers defeat No .
16 seed Robert Morris and ninth-seeded Florida @ @ @ @ @ , played like a senior with everything on the line for Butler .
The Bulldogs @ @ @ @ @ .
12 seed Texas 77-74 in the first round behind 18 points from Baldwin .
@ @ @ @ @ points in the final two minutes to hold off Maryland 68-63 .

No matter your rooting interests, wouldn’t it be nice to debate the Final Four?
Instead we are left with our dream scenarios in this sports void after the NCAA canceled the postseason because of concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.
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Join the Tribune as we break down a hypothetical journey. Thanks to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, who projects the bracket throughout every season, we at least can enjoy an alternate universe in which games still take place.
First and second rounds
What an opening weekend! From Sacramento, Calif., to Greensboro, N.C., upsets grabbed our attention.
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The Midwest Region supplied a fair amount of drama.
Here's how the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament would shake out, per Shannon Ryan. (Chicago Tribune staff)
Midwest Region
For only the fourth time since Mike Krzyzewski started coaching Duke in 1980, the Blue Devils qualified for the tournament and lost in the first round. Many suspected this wasn’t Duke’s year — and it wasn’t.
The third-seeded Blue Devils had lost three times in their previous six games, while No. 14 seed Belmont had won 12 in a row. After beating Murray State for the Ohio Valley Conference championship on a layup with three seconds left, Tyler Scanlon did it again with a late jumper to take down Duke 73-71.
Luka Garza and No. 6 seed Iowa were too much for Belmont in the second round. Garza, a national player of the year contender, scored 28 points with 11 rebounds to easily dispatch the Bruins 77-64.
The Hawkeyes advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. They’ll face No. 2 seed Kentucky, an easy winner against No. 15 seed North Dakota State and No. 7 seed Providence.
Fourth-seeded Wisconsin breezed by No. 13 seed North Texas and had no problem dispatching No. 12 seed Liberty, a potential Cinderella. The Flames upset fifth-seeded Auburn in the first round, but the Badgers looked more prepared.
They’ll face Kansas in the Sweet 16 in Indianapolis. The overall No. 1 seed looked dominant in a 30-point victory against No. 16 seed Siena and a 28-point win over eighth-seeded Houston.
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South Region
Iowa and Wisconsin were among 10 Big Ten programs that made the NCAA Tournament field and five that made it alive through the first weekend. Two more came out of the South: No. 3 seed Michigan State and No. 7 seed Illinois. (Penn State, seeded sixth in the East, was the fifth team.)
The conference spent so much of the season beating up on each other, its teams might have been undervalued — and the Illini were a prime example.
In the first round, Illinois guard Trent Frazier broke out of his shooting slump to hit five 3-pointers in a victory over No. 10 seed USC. In the next round, No. 2 seed Creighton hit 50% of its first-half shots and built a 12-point lead. But Illinois got a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Ayo Dosunmu to advance to the Sweet 16 in Houston, where the Illini will face Big Ten foe Michigan State.
The Spartans faced No. 14 seed Bradley for the second season in a row in the first round, winning more easily this season 68-54. Then they slugged it out with Virginia for a 62-58 victory behind 14 points from Cassius Winston.
No. 12 seed Stephen F. Austin and No. 13 seed Vermont provided the region’s major upsets. The Lumberjacks brought a 15-game winning streak into the tournament and took advantage of fifth-seeded Ohio State’s inconsistency for an 89-80 victory. Vermont had lost only twice since Dec. 20, and the Catamounts stunned No. 4 seed Louisville with a late layup.
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It was a shame the underdogs had to meet each other, but the high-scoring Lumberjacks should provide excitement against top seed Baylor in the Sweet 16. After the Bears clobbered No. 16 seed Winthrop, ninth-seeded Rutgers kept it close in the first half of the second-round game, but Baylor flexed its muscles for a 76-65 victory.
East Region
A Sweet 16 showdown in New York between top seed Dayton and fifth-seeded Butler should be a fun matchup between teams with devoted fan bases.
Obi Toppin displayed his dazzling dunks to help the Flyers defeat No. 16 seed Robert Morris and ninth-seeded Florida. Kamar Baldwin, meanwhile, played like a senior with everything on the line for Butler. The Bulldogs needed overtime to beat No. 12 seed Texas 77-74 in the first round behind 18 points from Baldwin. He followed up with seven points in the final two minutes to hold off Maryland 68-63.
Penn State is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2001. The Nittany Lions lost five of their last six regular-season games before going on a roll in the Big Ten Tournament.
The battle between Penn State’s Lamar Stevens and Villanova’s Saddiq Bey in the second round was a delight. The Nittany Lions won 74-69 behind Stevens’ 23 points and 11 rebounds. Bey finished with 18 and six for the third-seeded Wildcats.
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Penn State will face No. 2 seed Florida State, which narrowly escaped seventh-seeded West Virginia in the second round.
West Region
A star burst onto the scene in Seton Hall’s Myles Powell.
Big East fans have known about Powell for years, but he is becoming a national household name with his tournament performance. He scored 42 points in a victory over No. 14 seed Eastern Washington and 38 to beat No. 6 seed BYU as the third-seeded Pirates advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2000.
They’ll face No. 2 seed San Diego State, which ousted 10th-seeded Texas Tech — last season’s national runner-up — in the second round.
Top seed Gonzaga continued to impress in victories against No. 16 seed North Carolina Central and No. 8 seed LSU. The Bulldogs will face No. 4 seed Oregon in the Sweet 16 in Los Angeles.
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The Ducks fought off pesky Michigan in the second round. Senior guard Payton Pritchard has averaged 20 points in the first two games.
No team distinguished itself as a clear favorite during the regular season. Will someone finally stand out in the Sweet 16?
Sweet 16 and Elite 8
The college basketball world turned its attention to Indianapolis, New York, Los Angeles and Houston for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.
Ah, we can wish.
Here's how the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 would have played out, per Shannon Ryan. (Chicago Tribune staff)
West Region
No. 2 seed San Diego State quickly ended No. 10 Texas Tech’s long-shot hopes of returning to the national championship game. Guard Malachi Flynn scored 18 points in the 82-70 victory.
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But once again, Myles Powell and No. 3 seed Seton Hall dazzled. Powell helped hand the Aztecs just their third loss, scoring often in transition for 17 points in a 66-62 victory.
The Pirates moved on to face No. 4 seed Oregon in the Elite Eight. The Ducks pulled off the most talked about game of the tournament, knocking out top-seeded Gonzaga with an 80-78 overtime victory.
Seton Hall dismissed Oregon 72-66 behind eight points, four blocks and seven rebounds from 7-foot-2 center Romaro Gill.
The Pirates are in their first Final Four since 1989 — and have become fan favorites.
East Region
No. 3 seed Michigan State received a battle from No. 7 seed Illinois in the Sweet 16 — the first time the Illini advanced that far since 2005.
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The Illini battled the Spartans on the boards, but their spotty shooting caught up with them. Illinois made just 3 of 16 3-pointers and shot only 38% from the field.
The Spartans went to the wire with brutish No. 1 seed Baylor, who was plagued with foul trouble from the start, and pulled out a 67-63 victory. Michigan State heads to Atlanta looking for its first — and the Big Ten’s first — title since 2000.
Midwest Region
Top-seeded Kansas breezed into the Final Four with double-digit victories against No. 4 seed Wisconsin and No. 2 seed Kentucky.
The Jayhawks will greet the Seminoles in Atlanta.
East Region
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No. 2 seed Florida State upended No. 6 seed Penn State 72-61 and snuffed out top-seeded Dayton 66-60 with its ability to block shots and force turnovers.
The showdown in Atlanta awaits.
Final Four
Imagine the scene: Snoop Dogg on the court throwing bills into the air. The NCAA president grimacing through a handshake with Kansas coach Bill Self during the trophy presentation.
The spectacle would have been something to behold had the top-seeded Jayhawks won the NCAA Tournament. They surely would have had much of the nation rooting against them as a program embroiled in scandal, but their die-hard loyalists would have loved seeing the blue bloods win their first national title since 2008.
Kansas had the best shot to win it all.
How the Final Four would have played out, per Shannon Ryan. (Chicago Tribune)
After an unpredictable season, the tournament ended predictably. Kansas, the No. 1 overall seed, lived up to its billing with a 75-66 victory against No. 3 seed Michigan State.
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The Spartans, who advanced to their first championship game since 2010, throttled No. 3 Seton Hall 72-60 in the Final Four. They outrebounded the Pirates by 10, and Cassius Winston poured in 28 points in an intriguing battle against Myles Powell.
Kansas received a test from No. 2 seed Florida State. A strong performance from guard Devon Dotson, who scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half, led to a 74-67 Jayhawks victory.
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The final showdown was delectable. When the title game features teams with passionate fan bases and well-known coaches, it makes for an unforgettable, goose bump-creating atmosphere, which was the case at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Michigan State took a 50-47 lead with 8 minutes remaining thanks to a 10-0 run, but the best one-two punch in college basketball — Udoka Azubuike and Dotson — was too much for the Spartans. Azubuike finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Dotson added 14 points.
Kansas players rejoiced in winning the program’s first title in 12 years. The Jayhawks didn’t need a miracle shot this time — like they got from Mario Chalmers in that game.
There was, of course, a pall over the excitement: Self was forced to defend the program in his postgame news conference amid NCAA accusations that Kansas committed five Level 1 violations, the most severe.
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Afterward, Self and his players walked off the podium holding a trophy.
It would have been quite the sight.
Until next season.


chicagotribune--2020-03-23--Woody Allen has new publisher, memoir published Monday

He was with Mia Farrow for more than a decade , and recalls happy times with the “ very , @ @ @ @ @ would cool over the years , especially after the 1987 birth of their one biological @ @ @ @ @ Satchel at birth ) .
As he has alleged before , he and Farrow were @ @ @ @ @ he began dating her daughter Soon-Yi Previn , more than 30 years younger than he @ @ @ @ @ .
“ At the very early stages of our new relationship , when lust reigns @ @ @ @ @ t keep our hands off each other , ” he writes of Previn , whom @ @ @ @ @ to whom he dedicates the book .

Woody Allen’s memoir, dropped by its original publisher after widespread criticism, has found a new home. The 400-page book, still called “Apropos of Nothing,” was released today by Arcade Publishing.
"The book is a candid and comprehensive personal account by Woody Allen of his life," Arcade announced, “ranging from his childhood in Brooklyn through his acclaimed career in film, theater, television, print and standup comedy, as well as exploring his relationships with family and friends.”
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With little advance notice, the 84-year-old filmmaker's book arrives at a time when much of the world is otherwise preoccupied with the coronavirus pandemic. Arcade is an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing and a Skyhorse spokeswoman said no decisions had been made on whether he would give any interviews. Financial details for his deal with Arcade were not released and the spokeswoman had no immediate comment on whether the book would come out in Europe, where publishers in several countries have expressed interest.
“Apropos of Nothing” begins in the wry tone of such literary heroes as J.D. Salinger and George S. Kaufman, describing his New York City upbringing and love affairs with Diane Keaton and others with a sense of nostalgia and angst that also mirrors Allen movies ranging from “Radio Days” and “The Purple Rose of Cairo" to “Annie Hall” and “Hannah and Her Sisters.” But it darkens and becomes defensive, not surprisingly, as he recalls his relationship with Mia Farrow and the allegations he abused daughter Dylan Farrow that for many have come to define his public image in recent years.
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He was with Mia Farrow for more than a decade, and recalls happy times with the “very, very beautiful" actress that would cool over the years, especially after the 1987 birth of their one biological child, Ronan (named Satchel at birth). As he has alleged before, he and Farrow were essentially apart by the time he began dating her daughter Soon-Yi Previn, more than 30 years younger than he, in the early 1990s. “At the very early stages of our new relationship, when lust reigns supreme ... we couldn’t keep our hands off each other,” he writes of Previn, whom he married in 1997 and to whom he dedicates the book.
Recalling the day Farrow learned of the affair, after discovering erotic photographs of her 20-something daughter at Allen’s apartment, Allen writes: “Of course I understand her shock, her dismay, her rage, everything. It was the correct reaction.” But he also expresses no regret that he and Previn become lovers.
“Sometimes, when the going got rough and I was maligned everywhere, I was asked if I had known the outcome, do I ever wish I never took up with Soon-Yi?” he writes. “I always answered I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Director Woody Allen at a special screening of "Wonder Wheel" in New York late in 2017, left, and a cover image for "Apropos of Nothing," his autobiography, published today. (AP)
Allen has long denied sexually abusing Dylan, and, as he has alleged before, he speculates that the accusations arose from what he calls Farrow’s “Ahab-like quest” for revenge. “I never laid a finger on Dylan, never did anything to her that could be even misconstrued as abusing her; it was a total fabrication from start to finish,” he writes. Describing a visit to Farrow’s Connecticut house in August 1992, when he allegedly molested Dylan, he acknowledges briefly placing his head on his 7-year-old daughter’s lap, but adds: “I certainly didn’t do anything improper to her. I was in a room full of people watching TV midafternoon.”
Allen was never charged after two separate investigations in the 1990s. Dylan has maintained in recent years that she was abused and her allegations have been increasingly embraced in the #MeToo era. Ellen Page and Greta Gerwig are among the actors who have said that they won't work with him again and his most recent movie, “A Rainy Day in New York,” never came out in the United States; (Amazon, which was to release that movie and three others, ended their deal with Allen; Allen sued and an out-of-court settlement was reportedly reached). Numerous publishers reportedly shied from his memoir when an Allen representative shopped it last year.
“I can’t deny that it plays into my poetic fantasies to be an artist whose work isn’t seen in his own country and is forced, because of injustice, to have his public abroad,” Allen writes. “Henry Miller comes to mind. D.H. Lawrence. James Joyce. I see myself standing amongst them defiantly. It’s about at that point my wife wakes me up and says, ‘You’re snoring.’”
While Allen writes at length about his breakup with Farrow, he remembers warmly their films together, among them “Hannah and Her Sisters” and “Broadway Danny Rose,” and calls her an actress of versatility and depth. He also praises such longtime Allen defenders as Dick Cavett and Alec Baldwin and shares fond memories of Mel Brooks, Bette Midler and Neil Simon, among others.
The initial announcement of “Apropos of Nothing” came earlier this month, when Grand Central Publishing confirmed to The Associated Press that it would release his book April 7. But the news was met with quick and growing outrage, centered on allegations that Allen abused Dylan Farrow. Ronan Farrow, who shared the Pulitzer Prize with The New York Times for his New Yorker investigation into Harvey Weinstein, was enraged to learn that Allen’s book was being published by the same parent company, Hachette Book Group. that released his “Catch and Kill.” The acclaimed book further delved into the MeToo movement. Dozens of Hachette employees staged a walkout over the Allen book and Farrow, who had been working on “Catch and Kill” at the time Hachette acquired Allen’s memoir, said he would stop working with the publisher.
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Hachette canceled the release less than a week later, although Stephen King was among those questioning the decision as an infringement of free speech, writing on Twitter: "It’s who gets muzzled next that worries me.”
In a postscript to the Arcade edition, Allen alleges that Hachette had vowed to publish “Apropos of Nothing” despite his “being a toxic pariah and menace to society.” But, he writes, “When actual flak did arrive they thoughtfully reassessed their position" and ”dumped the book like it was a hunk of Xenon 135."
Arcade editor Jeannette Seaver said in a statement: “In this strange time, when truth is too often dismissed as 'fake news,' we as publishers prefer to give voice to a respected artist, rather than bow to those determined to silence him."
Skyhorse is a prolific, diverse and sometimes provocative company which has a catalog including books by everyone from Samuel Beckett and Octavio Paz to JFK conspiracy theorist Jim Garrison and Alan Dershowitz, the attorney, commentator and frequent defender of President Donald Trump who has his own history with Allen. In the 1990s, when Allen and Farrow were fighting over custody of their children, Dershowitz denied allegations by Allen that the attorney had asked him, on behalf of Farrow, for millions of dollars in exchange for the actress dropping allegations that he abused Dylan.


chicagotribune--2020-03-23--Bears Q&A: Is Nick Foles the Day 1 starter? Why did they rush to give Jimmy Graham all that money? W

Bears Q&A: Is Nick Foles the Day 1 starter? Why did they rush to give Jimmy Graham all that money? Why keep Danny Trevathan over Nick Kwiatkoski?

You say “ draft-oriented model , ” but the Bears have done heavy lifting in free agency since Pace arrived in 2015 .
That ’ s why they continued their annual trend of not earning any compensatory draft picks .
They felt there were a ton of roster holes to fill — and they were not wrong — and they used just about every avenue imaginable to add players .
There has been a doom and gloom tone to a lot of questions since the second half of last season .
One thing I know , though , is every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is sometimes difficult to remember , especially when you ’ re looking at schedules in the spring and trying to forecast the season ahead .
Everyone uses results of the previous season to look ahead .
Well , the Bears ’ 2018 success certainly didn ’ t carry through to 2019 .
By that same token , the struggles of the 49ers in 2018 didn ’ t have any affect on their 2019 success .
The Bears are going to have a different team with likely a different quarterback , and they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit on some of these moves .
If he doesn ’ t , it will be fascinating to see what happens .
Could Nagy survive ?
Yes .
Could there be wholesale changes ?
Yes .
Could they all get one more year ?
Yes .
It ’ s far too soon to speculate how things will shake out if things go awry .
The quarterback position remains unsettling , no doubt .
The Bears aren ’ t the only team in the league with that issue .
One thing to keep in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work out when a coach sticks around to work for a new GM .
The Bears have gone that route twice since I began covering the team with Dick Jauron-Jerry Angelo and then Lovie Smith-Phil Emery .
The only difference was Jauron managed to stick around a little longer for his new boss than Smith did .

The Tribune’s Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly.
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Was the Nick Foles trade a way for Ryan Pace to add a veteran quarterback without admitting Mitch Trubisky is not the guy? — @jhartzmark
No. How is it not apparent that swapping a fourth-round pick and guaranteeing Foles a little more than $20 million isn’t a complete admission that Trubisky is not the guy? If Trubisky were the guy, the Bears would have kept the draft pick and earmarked that money for other needs. This isn’t the kind of investment a team makes for a QB2. It’s far and away more than they provided for Chase Daniel to be the clipboard holder the last two seasons. The addition of Foles signals a restructuring of the depth chart at the position that will happen soon. I don’t believe the Bears added Foles to motivate or push Trubisky and I don’t believe he was brought in to be a fallback plan in the event Trubisky is inconsistent at the start of the season. Follow the money and put the pieces together. This move was made to get a starting quarterback for the start of the 2020 season. That’s my takeaway.
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[ Is Nick Foles an upgrade for the Bears at QB over Mitch Trubisky? Check the numbers. ]
Do you expect some movement soon for a very disappointing offensive line in 2019? — @darrylconrad
As we near the end of the first week of free agency, it has become apparent the Bears are heaping the bulk of the blame for the line’s performance on former position coach Harry Hiestand and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich and to a lesser extent ex-right guard Kyle Long. How else can you interpret it given the fact the team has done little more than hire Juan Castillo as the new line coach? The Bears would have liked to re-sign swing tackle Cornelius Lucas, but he received a two-year, $5.3 million contract from the Redskins, maybe a little richer than the Bears wanted to go with a backup plan. They have yet to add an interior lineman, and the in-house candidates to compete for the right guard spot are Rashaad Coward and Alex Bars. Coward got a shot last season and didn’t show the gains the team hoped to see over 10 starts. It’s possible a few free agents interest the Bears and the team simply is waiting for them to lower their salary requests. The longer this drags out, the better chance Bars has to compete for a starting spot. It was probably best for him to spend last season getting stronger as he worked his way back from a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee that truncated his senior season at Notre Dame in 2018. He absolutely will be at full speed before the Bears get back on the field and perhaps he can impress Castillo.
Don’t expect starting changes at the four other positions on the line. Tackles Charles Leno and Bobby Massie have contracts the Bears were going to pay this season. And where would they find an upgrade over Leno with limited cap space and no first-round pick? The Bears gave Cody Whitehair an extension last summer, and he’s entrenched at center. Nagy was optimistic about James Daniels’ play after the Bears switched him back to left guard.
But the lack of a move for a right guard is a sign the team believes switching coaches would make the biggest impact. Plenty of folks in the NFL and college ranks hold Hiestand in high regard.
Why did the Bears rush and give Jimmy Graham all that money when nobody wanted him? The Eric Ebron signing proves that. — @reggsingleton
The Bears signed Graham to a two-year, $16 million contract after the Packers cut him, and the key number is $9 million guaranteed. Graham received a $6 million signing bonus and will have a $3 million base salary, of $3 million this season. That meaning his salary-cap hit is $6 million for 2020. His base salary is $6.9 million in 2021 with a $100,000 workout bonus. Ebron’s contract with the Steelers has been reported to be worth $12 million over two seasons.
Packers tight end Jimmy Graham scores a touchdown past Bears defensive back Deon Bush during the first half at Soldier Field on Sept. 5, 2019. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
The best explanation I can think of for why the Bears would pay Graham more than Ebron: When they came to an agreement with Graham, Ebron was telling teams he was expecting significantly more. The Bears were in a bad spot at tight end and needed to do something. Bringing back Greg Olsen, a Bears first-round pick in 2007, might have made more sense than Graham, although Olsen has missed time with injuries the last few seasons, and the Bears already have one overpaid tight end with durability issues.
Even though the Bears have guaranteed $4 million of Trey Burton’s base salary for this season, do not rule out the possibility they cut him. Burton also could fail his physical, although that would not be an out for the team from the guarantee. Moving on from Burton would save the Bears $2.8 million in cash as his base salary is $6.7 million and he has a $100,000 workout bonus.
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Graham and Burton are repetitive to me. It doesn’t make sense to pay them a combined $15.8 million for this season. One source suggested the Bears were interested in trading just about any tight end on the roster after adding Graham. I’m not sure there will be any takers and certainly there isn’t a team that would trade for Burton with his contract.
Any chance the Bears pursue Eric Reid now that the Panthers have released him? — @real_pbd
That seems unlikely. They re-signed Deon Bush and on Sunday added Jordan Lucas, a former Chief who started four games in 2018. I assumed the Bears would try to find a potential starter opposite of free safety Eddie Jackson via the draft. Under Ryan Pace and even general managers before him, the Bears have done a nice job of finding safety talent in the middle and even late rounds. After rewarding Jackson with a contract extension in January, the Bears need to find a lower-budget option.
Is Deon Bush a depth signing or a starter? — @darien_wells
Yes. Bush’s return on a one-year, $1.4 million deal provides the Bears with a player who knows the scheme and has starting experience. I imagine Bush will be given an opportunity to compete for the starting role. If he doesn’t nail that job down, he’s a quality depth piece to have and a four-phase special teams contributor.
Bears defensive back Deon Bush arrives for a camp on July 25, 2019. (Nam Huh/AP)
I am guessing the Bears will use both of their second-round picks on offensive linemen, or will we see a cornerback or safety and an offensive lineman in Round 2 or pick one and trade down? — @dabayrz
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I always caution people to avoid getting fixated on one position or even two when looking ahead to the draft, especially when more moves will be made in free agency. It’s even more of a crapshoot forecasting a position when the picks are in the middle of Round 2 and not Round 1. What if there isn’t an offensive lineman with an appropriate grade to justify selection at No. 43? What if the top ones come off the board in Round 1, and then there is a mini run on linemen early in Round 2? What do they do then — draft one they had a third- or fourth-round grade on because they were fixated on the position? That’s a good way to get a lineman who will not meet expectations — and the type of thing that could put the Bears back in the market for a replacement in a year or two.
That said, a small group of positions would make most sense for the Bears in Round 2, where they will be seeking players who can help right away. An offensive lineman makes sense if they see a player they view as a future starter, especially at, say, right tackle. But that won’t necessarily help them win this season, and general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy want to right the ship that left them at 8-8 in 2019. Maybe they will consider drafting a guard, but they probably have other ideas about how to fill the right guard spot. So what positions could the Bears target that have a clearer path to playing time? Cornerback is one. Do the Bears see a tight end worthy of taking at No. 43 or No. 50? Some analysts have speculated no tight end will be drafted in the top 50 picks — the class at that position is that watered down. It’s an excellent year for wide receivers, and certainly the Bears could benefit from adding one, especially a player with speed. The Bears are not stocked at the position in such a way that they can ignore what is considered one of the best classes of wide receivers in two or three decades. Round 2 is probably too rich for a safety, especially when teams can find Day 3 starters at the position. If I had to pick two positions right now — and remember, I don’t honing in on one or two positions — I would go with cornerback and wide receiver.
Also, it would not surprise me if the Bears consider what is available for a potential trade down from No. 43 or No. 50. I’m sure the weekly “Will the Bears trade up?” and “Will the Bears trade down?” questions will be floating into the mailbag any week now. Let me get ahead of the curve: I don’t believe they are in position to trade up, not in Round 2, anyway. If they get a decent offer, they almost have to trade down with one of the second-round picks. Otherwise they’re looking at owning just two picks in the first 162 selections. If they could trade a Round 2 pick and get a Round 3 and Round 4 pick or maybe Round 3 and Round 5 pick, that would make sense.
[ Column: Bears’ trade for Nick Foles is an admission they whiffed on drafting Mitch Trubisky, no matter who is the starter when work resumes ]
Pending an extension for Allen Robinson, what are the chances the Bears investigate the market for veteran receivers? This year’s draft is deep in talent. — @eduerrwaechter
I don’t know that an extension for Robinson would affect this. The forecast strength of the draft at wide receiver has put a damper on action for the position in free agency. Smart agents probably did what they could to take care of their clients anticipating this. If the Bears see a speedy player who could fit into what they’re doing, maybe it’s worth kicking around. It’s a better idea to hit on one in the draft and have a player on a cost-controlled deal. The problem is the Bears haven’t done well at drafting wide receivers.
Because the Bears clearly are moving on to Nick Foles, at least in my mind, would they try to recoup something for Mitch Trubisky by trading him? — Harold L., Seattle
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From the Bears’ perspective, that’s a good idea: get something in return for a player who hasn’t worked out, especially after they’ve brought in the replacement. Flip it around, though: Can you envision another team would want to fork over a draft pick for Trubisky, who essentially is on a one-year deal considering no one is going to pay him the fifth-year option in his contract? The Bears were near the bottom of the league in nearly all key passing statistics. The offseason program looks like it very well could be wiped out, and if that happens, who knows when teams will be able to report to training camp. So when is Trubisky going to learn the offense for a team that trades for him? None of that adds up. Most teams have their QB2 in place already too.
Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky comes out to warm up for a game against the Cowboys at Soldier Field on Dec. 5, 2019. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Is Cam Newton really that broken that the Bears couldn’t make a deal? — @cdk852
Given the rules in place because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Bears had no way to look at Newton with their doctors. He missed last season with a Lisfranc injury in his left foot that ultimately required surgery, and remember he had his right shoulder surgically repaired before that. No team would trade for Newton without being able to take a close look at him, the Bears included. Maybe he can return to form, but his health is a real question after separate serious injuries. Instead, the Bears acquired a quarterback they are familiar with and one who should pick up the offense quickly.
The contracts for Danny Trevathan and Nick Kwiatkoski are very similar. In retrospect, the Bears could’ve had either one. Why did they opt for Trevathan when Kwiatkoski is so much younger and has ostensibly a huge upside? Does Trevathan’s leadership offset his age and injury history? — @davepracz
The inside linebackers received virtually identical contracts when looking at the key figures — length, total guarantee and maximum value. The Bears re-signed Trevathan before the start of the new league year, ensuring Kwiatkoski would be going elsewhere, and he found a new home in Las Vegas. I wonder if Trevathan would have gotten $7 million per season and a guarantee north of $13 million on the open market. The concern with Trevathan is durability. He has missed 18 games since coming to the Bears on a four-year, $28 million contract in 2016. The only season he got through clean was 2018, when he started all 16 games. Dating to his time in Denver, he has missed at least seven games in three of the last six seasons. So history tells you there is a decent chance he will be sideline at some point this season. Kwiatkoski had a pectoral muscle injury that cost him some time in 2017, but he didn’t miss a game the last two seasons, largely as a reserve. Trevathan turns 30 on Tuesday and Kwiatkoski will be 27 in May. General manager Ryan Pace has had success in free agency, especially when he has targeted players coming out of their rookie contract, as he did with Trevathan. He deemed Trevathan worthy of an extension, and the intangibles he provides likely were a key factor. The Bears like Kwiatkowski; they just felt Trevathan brought more to the table. Now he has to stay healthy to keep his seat at that table.
Why isn’t the nonsensical Robert Quinn move receiving more criticism? People are actually calling this a “swap” of Leonard Floyd for Quinn. This rationale is flat out incorrect. By signing Quinn, the Bears negated the fifth- or sixth-round compensatory pick they would have received for Nick Kwiatkoski. By releasing Floyd, the Bears canceled out the fourth-round compensatory pick they would have received for Floyd leaving after the 2021 season. Therefore, the Bears likely just traded Floyd and a fifth- and sixth-round pick for an aging and expensive pass rusher. How is this not a terrible move for a team whose GM already has sacrificed so much draft capital in the past through bad trade-ups and poor first-round picks? — Sanjay A., Chicago
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As someone who has written about the Bears’ inability to produce compensatory draft picks longer than anyone else, I won’t dismiss their significance. Good teams have a way of producing them regularly, and when they do that year after year, those picks help. You raise some valid questions, but the Bears couldn’t keep Floyd, not at $13.2 million for 2020. Perhaps landing a fourth-round compensatory pick in the 2022 draft for losing Floyd in free agency a year from now was not a legitimate reason to keep him around. In two full seasons teamed with Khalil Mack, Floyd was unable to develop as a complementary pass rusher, and that failure canceled out the things he did well, such as drop in coverage and set the edge in the running game. You can’t perpetuate a draft miss — and that is what Floyd is when considering the team traded up to get him at No. 9 in 2016 — with the idea of a comp pick in 2022.
Cowboys defensive end Robert Quinn reacts during a game on Nov. 17, 2019. (Paul Sancya/AP)
It’s certainly not a flip of Floyd for Quinn. The Bears were forced to trade for Mack because Floyd wasn’t the edge rusher they thought he could be. Then they had to sign Quinn because Floyd wasn’t the complementary edge rusher the Bears figured he would be after readjusting their expectations for him. So no, it’s not a swap. The Bears paid a lot of money for Quinn — $14 million guaranteed — and they will carry a good chunk of dead money in 2022 if he doesn’t make it to Year 3 of the contract. He’s entering his 10th season and was extremely productive opposite DeMarcus Lawrence last season in Dallas. So the Bears are optimistic he will help ramp up a pass rush that was stalled for much of last season. These are the types of moves teams make when top draft picks don’t pan out.
[ Column: Releasing Leonard Floyd was the logical move for Ryan Pace and the Bears. But their latest high-profile failure helps explain why they’re stuck in mediocrity. ]
One of the biggest opportunities for improvement is with team speed, and I think the Round 2 picks should be dedicated to wide receiver and running back. The WR position has been discussed at length, but I do not see much about the running backs. If Jonathan Taylor, D’Andre Swift, J.K. Dobbins or Cam Akers were to fall into their Round 2 picks, the Bears would have to grab one of them. David Montgomery is like Mitch Trubisky — everything has to be perfect around him for success. Montgomery lacks top-end speed, so holes close quicker on him. He lacks the ability to cut with speed and is average out of the backfield. The Bears need a running back who can take it to the house, and Montgomery doesn’t have it. Thoughts? — Bob B., Atlanta
You’re not alone in wondering about the possibility of the Bears taking a running back. I understand what you are saying about Montgomery, who was underutilized at times during his rookie season and disappointing at others. When you consider the Bears traded up to draft him, I don’t think they are ready to pull the plug on him. I agree: a potentially exciting back could be on the board when the Bears go on the clock at No. 43. I will not rule it out because they have to find ways to make this offense more explosive, and Montgomery does, as you point out, lack speed. With a better offense and new coaching, the organization believes Montgomery will have some success. If I am wrong and they go after a back in Round 2, you will have been ahead of the curve on this one, Bob.
If Jacob Eason is available when the Bears pick in the second round, I think they would be foolish to pass on him. He has a big arm, lots of talent and would push Mitch Trubisky. They have to start looking for a long-term answer, and I don’t think Nicks Foles is it. — George T., Parts Unknown
Eason is a big guy with a big arm, but he’s not going to help the Bears win in 2020, and I believe the franchise will commit their resources in Round 2 to help the roster right away. Maybe Ryan Pace will take a quarterback at some point in the draft, but if he’s feeling pressure to win this season, he’s likely eyeing players who should be able to see the field right away.
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I have a sinking feeling the 2020 season will be Ryan Pace’s last, which is a shame because he has accomplished tangibly beneficial things for the Bears during his tenure. But he has struck out with his premium draft picks and at the quarterback position, and seemingly has abandoned the draft-oriented model of roster building he once championed. My question is, will Matt Nagy survive a potential GM turnover? What will he have to show this season to dissuade a new general manager from hiring his guy to coach the Bears? — David D., Rogers Park
You say “draft-oriented model,” but the Bears have done heavy lifting in free agency since Pace arrived in 2015. That’s why they continued their annual trend of not earning any compensatory draft picks. They felt there were a ton of roster holes to fill — and they were not wrong — and they used just about every avenue imaginable to add players. There has been a doom and gloom tone to a lot of questions since the second half of last season. One thing I know, though, is every season is its own entity. This is sometimes difficult to remember, especially when you’re looking at schedules in the spring and trying to forecast the season ahead. Everyone uses results of the previous season to look ahead. Well, the Bears’ 2018 success certainly didn’t carry through to 2019. By that same token, the struggles of the 49ers in 2018 didn’t have any affect on their 2019 success. The Bears are going to have a different team with likely a different quarterback, and they’re making changes. Maybe Pace will hit on some of these moves. If he doesn’t, it will be fascinating to see what happens. Could Nagy survive? Yes. Could there be wholesale changes? Yes. Could they all get one more year? Yes. It’s far too soon to speculate how things will shake out if things go awry. The quarterback position remains unsettling, no doubt. The Bears aren’t the only team in the league with that issue. One thing to keep in mind: Sometimes it doesn’t work out when a coach sticks around to work for a new GM. The Bears have gone that route twice since I began covering the team with Dick Jauron-Jerry Angelo and then Lovie Smith-Phil Emery. The only difference was Jauron managed to stick around a little longer for his new boss than Smith did.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 81 Bears GM Ryan Pace wheels his suitcase across the field before the start of the Week 17 game against the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Jan. 9, 2022. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Do the Bears see Demetrius Harris as a starter at the Y tight end? I know he has played the position before but he’s awfully light at 230 pounds. Adam Shaheen has been a nonentity even when healthy. Shouldn’t they be thinking about signing or drafting another player to compete for that role? — Tom S., Chicago
You raise a good question about Harris, and I agree that his listed weight isn’t ideal for an in-line blocker. He does have great length, though, at 6-foot-7, so if he’s skilled at creating angles and playing with proper pad level, he probably can have success because he does have experience. While the Bears have yet to officially announce the addition of Jimmy Graham, he will become the ninth tight end on the roster. So before the Bears consider any more tight ends, as you suggest, they really need to shed two or three. Ten percent of their 90-man roster is made up of tight ends.
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Are we perpetually doomed as Bears fans? Will Ted Phillips be in charge of finding the next general manager? It’s the definition of insanity making the same mistake over and over. — @lastchange15
The Bears are a year removed from a division championship with a defense that should be one of the better ones in the league if they can remain healthy. So “doomed” is probably an overstatement. Everyone’s glass is usually half-full, Lovie Smith-style, in the offseason, right? As far as what happens the next time there is a major shift in power at Halas Hall, Chairman George McCaskey should be the one making decisions.
[ Tracking the Bears’ moves in free agency: ]
Over the last two years it looks as if the Soldier Field turf has improved. It is the lack of a running game or changes by the Park District and the Bears? — @dccfresh
It’s not your imagination. The turf has been much improved for really the last four or five years. Patrick O’Connell did a thorough job of explaining how the city and team were able to improve conditions at Soldier Field during the team’s push to the playoffs in 2018. It’s worth reading if you missed it. And to address a question that is asked many, many times a year: No, the Bears have no known plans to move to artificial turf.
I recall the Bears courting Trumaine Johnson after he left the Rams. I think the Jets misused him, and he could benefit from playing behind the Bears front seven and opposite Kyle Fuller. I know the Bears made a couple of lower-level signings at defensive back, but could Johnson be a longer-term option? I think he’s a better cover corner than Prince Amukamara. — Gregory, Beverly
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Johnson was an interesting option in free agency two years ago but he was terrible the last two years for the Jets. He’s not going to want to play for cheap either. Logan Ryan is another free agent the Bears chased at one time. They tried to sign him in 2017 before he wound up with the Titans. He’s still available, and some believe his asking price of $10 million is too high. The Bears might have been able to add him had they not signed tight end Jimmy Graham.
With the Bradley Sowell-tight end experiment a failure, and considering the additions at the position, what are the chances they bring Sowell back at tackle? — Craig R., Joliet
Sowell didn’t work out as a tight end but was a consummate pro. I doubt they would bring him back as a swing tackle because if they felt good about him there, they probably would not have suggested the move to tight end in the first place.
Can you explain why Ryan Pace didn’t even try to sign Tom Brady? I thought the Bears are in “win now” mode, and I’m pretty sure there won’t be another quarterback in the league more determined to win this season than Brady. It’s apparent now that the Bears could have afforded him if you combine the contracts of Nick Foles and Jimmy Graham, so what’s the GM’s excuse? Also, on Brady’s end, you could make the argument that the Bears roster is just as good if not better than that of the Bucs. Another selling point: He would have had a chance to finish his career with a crown-jewel franchise with the second-most NFL championships instead of an expansion franchise that has been pretty much a joke for more than 40 years except for one magical season. — Ben L., Sioux City, Iowa
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Free agency is a two-way street, and no one can convince me Brady would find anything about the Bears attractive. The Buccaneers had two 1,000-yard receivers last season — Mike Evans and Chris Godwin — and a productive vertical threat in Breshad Perriman whom they might re-sign. Add in a pair of tight ends in O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate who can produce, and it’s not even close. If you’ve been following the script with Brady, one of the things he wanted was to be around more skill-position talent after things eroded somewhat in New England, especially after the retirement of tight end Rob Gronkowski. The Bears have wide receiver Allen Robinson, and who else is proven and durable? Pace could have put his best pitch together for Brady, but it would have been an impossible sell. The Bears were one of the worst offenses in the league last season, and franchise history is never a selling point in free agency. It’s something players mention after they sign in order to appease the fan base. Free agency is about dollars and opportunity, and even with more dollars, the Bears could not have sold opportunity to Brady with their offense.
Many Bears watchers have been anticipating an extension for Allen Robinson. What cap space is left for such a contract? — Jerry L., Parts Unknown
The Bears don’t need to create cap space for a Robinson extension because their goal with a new deal would be to reduce his current cap hit of $15 million for 2020. So a new deal for Robinson would create room, not chew it up. Robinson likely is seeking an extension averaging close to $20 million annually, which is $6 million more than the average of his current three-year, $42 million contract that will expire after the 2020 season. These negotiations can take time, and from Robinson’s standpoint, there’s no rush to put pen to paper until he has something with which he’s comfortable. An extension needs to be a top priority for general manager Ryan Pace, but he certainly has had more pressing issues in the last week.


chicagotribune--2020-03-23--Ask Amy: Job Seeker is frustrated by follow-up

You are wise to keep your distance from the person who abused you , as well as anyone else who @ @ @ @ @ You do n't need to spend your own valuable emotional bandwidth trying to assess this @ @ @ @ @ you need only to protect yourself , and -- in this case , the best @ @ @ @ @ to keep your distance .

Dear Amy: Have the standards of business ethics changed in recent years?
I have gone to several job interviews, with zero follow-up from the employer or the recruiter who set up the interview.
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These are situations where the employer contacted me and asked me to come in for the interview, telling me, "We'll get back to you."
I had two interviews recently which went well, I thought, but I never heard from them again. I even called to follow up -- my calls went to voicemail, of course -- and still no phone call, email or letter.
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I wish businesses would realize that when they do this, it leaves people with bad feelings about them, and we tell our friends. A rejection is fine, but a polite message back, such as: "Thank you for spending your time with us, however, we have selected another candidate" would bring closure to the process.
Is it now OK to just blow off the person you asked to come in for an interview?
— Ignored
Dear Ignored: Business ethics have not changed. Hiring practices have changed, however.
One frustration for current job seekers is how communication with recruiters and employers seems to flow in one direction, controlled by the employer. When a (often off-site) recruiter sets up an interview, the only contact information you have is the recruiter's -- not that of the person who is conducting the interview.
Savvy job seekers conclude an in-person or Skype interview by asking, "Could you share your email address with me so I can follow up to thank you?"
If the manager chooses to share an email address, you can keep in touch directly.
A good recruiter will contact you after an interview, even if it is to tell you that you won't be hired.
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To conduct an effective job search, you should be using all of the social networking tools available to contact potential employers -- not only via voice call, email, or letter.
Glassdoor.com offers ways for you to receive -- and leave -- anonymous feedback about the hiring process with a specific company.
Dear Amy: In high school, I had a boyfriend who was addicted to cocaine. He became very mentally, physically, and sexually abusive.
My best friend at the time knew him, but she knew nothing about what was happening in the relationship.
After leaving the relationship with the boyfriend, I ended up going to a mental hospital.
While I was hospitalized, she and I reconnected. I told her all about this abuse. She is very aware of the physical and psychological scars I still have.
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Recently, I became aware that she's been hanging out with him more often in their friend group. She knows everything that he did to me and still chooses to hang out with him.
I know I am being a little harsh, but I don't want to be around her or even talk to her because I don't want her telling him anything about me and my current boyfriend or our lives (when I was with him, this monster had me and family members in fear for our safety).
Should I try to talk to her about this? Is it OK to just walk away from her because of this?
Should I be going about this differently?
— Upset
Dear Upset: Your duty is to take care of yourself, and you seem to have done an admirable job.
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Loyal friends will quite naturally not want to maintain a close friendship with an individual who has abused a friend.
Of course, it is possible that the man who abused you has cleaned up his act and changed in a dramatic way, but you should not risk your own well-being by testing this possibility.
Ask Amy Daily No-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
You are wise to keep your distance from the person who abused you, as well as anyone else who is connected to him. You don't need to spend your own valuable emotional bandwidth trying to assess this situation from every angle -- you need only to protect yourself, and -- in this case, the best way to protect yourself is to keep your distance.
Dear Amy: "A Very Concerned Son" became alarmed when his mother kept repeating herself during a phone call. Slurred speech and repeating yourself can be signs of severe dehydration. My mother's doctor told me I had helped to save her life by noticing her slurred speech during a phone call.
— Grateful
Dear Grateful: Sometimes, these changes are more evident when speaking over the phone. I've heard from several readers with similar stories.
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(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
Copyright 2019 by Amy Dickinson
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency


chicagotribune--2020-03-23--Cops: Man seriously injured in shooting following Hyde Park dice game

The shooting happened around 5:15 p.m. in the 5400 block of South University Avenue , according to Chicago police .
@ @ @ @ @ a dark van fired at the victim , striking him in the chest .
He @ @ @ @ @ of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition , police said .

A 21-year-old man was shot and wounded Monday afternoon in the city’s Hyde Park neighborhood in an incident that police described as possibly “a dice game gone wrong.”
The shooting happened around 5:15 p.m. in the 5400 block of South University Avenue, according to Chicago police. Authorities said the occupants of a dark van fired at the victim, striking him in the chest. He was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition, police said.
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A police source the shooting occurred following a dice game that turned tense among its players. Following the shooting, police used city cameras to track the fleeing vehicle about two miles west, where it was stopped in the area of 49th Street and Michigan Avenue, according to the source.
At least one person was taken into custody and a weapon was recovered, the source said.


chicagotribune--2020-03-22--Part of the frontline of coronavirus response, suburban firefighters are taking precautions against

Part of the frontline of coronavirus response, suburban firefighters are taking precautions against the virus’s spread

“ They were right there at the door , ready to take our temperatures to make sure we were fever-free @ @ @ @ @ Marty Feld said .
“ With concerns about COVID-19 , they have to take special @ @ @ @ @ because much of their clientele is already compromised and they need to be proactive .
@

Winnetka firefighters gathered at a March 19, 2020, meeting. Officials said the fire department's first responders are taking extra precautions, including "social distancing," even during daily meetings at the start of a new shift, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Winnetka Fire Department / Pioneer Press)
When the Niles Fire Department responded to a recent 911 call for service from a local nursing home, the first responders arriving at the scene were prohibited from entering the building until they had their temperatures taken.
“They were right there at the door, ready to take our temperatures to make sure we were fever-free,” Niles Fire Chief Marty Feld said. “With concerns about COVID-19, they have to take special precautions at these facilities, because much of their clientele is already compromised and they need to be proactive.”
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While many area residents are heeding Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order, and limiting outside activities to walks and visits to the grocery store, local firefighters and other first responders don’t have the same options.
Instead, first responders including firefighters, paramedics and police officers must dutifully show up for work and potentially risk exposure to the new coronavirus while responding to emergencies and even routine incidents involving the public.
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Yet despite facing challenges, such as a scarcity of face masks needed to protect first responders and the people they are assisting from the spread of the virus, local members of the fire service say they are determined to do their part to keep their communities, and their ranks, safe from harm.
At the Glenview Fire Department, that means checking firefighters temperatures at the start and end of each shift, said Interim Fire Chief Tony DeRose.
“We’re also trying to maintain social distancing when we’re together, and we’re doing our laundry at the fire station to avoid having to take our uniforms home,” DeRose said.
In Winnetka, Fire Chief Alan Berkowsky said the COVID-19 virus has led the department to "prepare for contingencies, in case we see reductions in our staffing because of illness.”
"But we will always be available for our residents, 24/7, 365 days a year,” Berkowsky said.
With firefighters working shifts that require them to be on call for 24 hours, Berkowsky said concerns about the spread of COVID-19 has forced his crew to make adjustments to their normal routines, including ensuring that not only first responders, but the residents they are assisting, are wearing protective masks at all times.
“It doesn’t matter if we’re responding to a simple trip and fall call, the person we are assisting could actually have the virus,” Berkowsky said.
In Evanston, Fire Chief Brian Scott said firefighters are doing their "very best to protect our residents, and to protect our people in the fire department.”
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“It’s imperative that we keep our firefighters healthy so they can best serve the community,” said Scott, adding that the fire department, “has taken every precaution we can to limit exposure to our people.”
“We are doing all we can to flatten the curve,” Scott added.
Glencoe Public Safety Deputy Chief Rich Weiner said his department has started handling all non-emergency reports by phone, rather than in person, to reduce the potential risk of exposure to the virus.
“The fact that the information we’re getting is constantly changing alters what we do in response," Weiner said. “But first and foremost, our main goal is protecting the public and our staff by reducing any potential spread of the virus.”
While firefighters across the U.S. are united by their determination to serve their communities during what many in fire service have described as an unprecedented public health crisis, first responders are also facing the same challenges.
One major concern is a scarcity of personal protective equipment, known as PPE, which firefighters need to protect themselves from contracting the virus, according to officials with the Washington, D.C.-based International Association of Firefighters.
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“We believe that the CDC’s updated PPE recommendations for the care of patients with known or suspected COVID-19 will put firefighters and EMS personnel at risk,” Harold A. Schaitberger, general president of the IAFF wrote in a March 11 letter to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
“The CDC recommendations state that facemasks are an acceptable alternative when the supply chain of respirators cannot meet the demand, but these recommendations are based on a controlled work environment within the healthcare setting. For fire fighters and EMS personnel, our work environment is never controlled,” Schaitberger said.
A respirator known as an N-95 or higher would provide the best protection for firefighters when it comes to caring for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients, IAFF spokesman Doug Stern said Wednesday.
“When the (federal government) has talked about getting any actual stockpile or funding for supplies, it’s always directed at hospitals and doctors’ offices, and very rarely for firefighters, even though we are the first link in the public health chain,” Stern said.
Back in Niles, Fire Chief Marty Feld echoed Stern’s concerns about needed PPE equipment to keep his first responders safe.
“The (respirators) are much more scarce right now, and it’s going to take a while to get them replenished,” Feld said, adding: “In 33 years, I’ve never experienced anything like this, and it’s new to every one of us. But we’re all remaining hopeful, and trying to stay positive."
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kcullotta@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @kcullotta


chicagotribune--2020-03-22--SportsCenter’s Scott Van Pelt highlights local athletes during #SeniorNight segment

“ A young athlete , who had given everything to his/her sport .
Was 30 minutes away from competing .
@ @ @ @ @ just over .
How do you make that make sense ?
” Van Pelt said @ @ @ @ @ was a powerful image .
You could feel the weight of the moment and you @ @ @ @ @ .
If you lose the game , so be it .
To lose the opportunity @ @ @ @ @ is heavy .
”

Concordia University Chicago seniors Kristen Landon and Taylor Kulaszewicz are honored by Alfred (N.Y.) softball players before their final game of the season on Friday, March 13, 2020. The photo appeared on Scott Van Pelt's #SeniorNight segment on SportsCenter. (Danielle Gariglio/CUC Athletics)
Athletes who saw their seasons end unexpectedly due to the coronavirus pandemic felt a flood of emotions.
But for the Concordia University Chicago softball team and Hinsdale South basketball player Billy Durkin, there was something else: unexpected coverage on ESPN.
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To honor athletes whose seasons ended without a proper send-off, SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt launched an ongoing segment called #SeniorNight on March 15.
The very first image showed Concordia seniors Taylor Kulaszewicz and Kristen Landon running onto the field March 13 as Alfred (N.Y.) softball players hoisted their bats to create a tunnel for the Cougars in what turned out to be their final game of the season.
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Moments later, Durkin was shown sitting by himself at center court of Hinsdale South’s main gym after the Hornets’ sectional semifinal against Benet was canceled March 12. Durkin’s team finished with a record-setting 30-3 mark.
“I asked if I could go down to the main gym and sit down,” Durkin said. “I was trying to accept the fact that the season ended. I was more stunned than anything in that picture.”
That’s when things began to happen. Assistant coach John Holakovsky was watching the feed of what should have been the sectional semifinal, but instead showed Durkin sitting at center court. He and another assistant coach, Joe Mazzei, tweeted it out March 13 to Van Pelt, who had asked for #SeniorNight submissions.
To Mazzei’s surprise, both Van Pelt and the main ESPN account “liked” the photo, one of thousands that had been posted. Days later, it was on SportsCenter.
“A young athlete, who had given everything to his/her sport. Was 30 minutes away from competing. Then, it’s just over. How do you make that make sense?” Van Pelt said via ESPN. “It was a powerful image. You could feel the weight of the moment and you could feel for the kid. If you lose the game, so be it. To lose the opportunity to be in the arena is heavy.”
Concordia softball coach Sarah O’Malley-Fisher met with her team the evening of March 12 at her condo in Florida, where the Cougars were scheduled to play a doubleheader against Ohio Wesleyan and Alfred. She talked with her players about the growing list of cancellations and implored them to focus on one day at a time.
The next day, between games, she found out the season would be canceled. She and her assistant coaches had already pulled together an impromptu senior day, with flowers and cake. Assistant coach Michele Alexander spoke with the Alfred coaches about doing something special for seniors Landon and Kulaszewicz.
That led to the run through the bat tunnel in the top of the seventh inning. In the bottom of that frame, freshman shortstop Becky Pieroni hit a walk-off three-run homer to end the season with a win.
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Later that day, Concordia staff member Danielle Gariglio posted photos of the bat tunnel on Twitter, which ended up on #SeniorNight. O’Malley-Fisher, Landon and Kulaszewicz were also interviewed for a more in-depth feature, which had not yet aired as of the publication of this story.
“It was pretty crazy to see myself on there, because I never thought I would be on ESPN,” said Kulaszewicz, who was on second base when Pieroni homered. “It kind of made the bitter moment a little sweeter.”
Added Landon: “It definitely softens the blow, the walk-off more than anything. I’d trade ESPN for keeping the walk-off. It was an incredible way to end our final game.”
Gregg Voss is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press


chicagotribune--2020-03-24--Hearings start on releasing some youths from Cook County juvenile detention over COVID-19 fears

So far Cook County officials have identified more than 100 adult inmates at the jail for potential early release , @ @ @ @ @ who do not pose a threat to public safety but have health issues , those @ @ @ @ @ being held on bonds that they can ’ t afford .
Hearings for those detainees @ @ @ @ @

With efforts to release inmates from Cook County Jail during the coronavirus threat underway, county officials this week have ramped up their efforts to address a younger at-risk population: detained juveniles.
Peter Parry, a deputy Cook County public defender, confirmed to the Tribune that hearings started this week for 100 of the roughly 150 youth who have been named in juvenile petitions and are currently being detained at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.
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As of late Tuesday afternoon, more than 20 young people had been ordered released from the facility, with more hearings to continue Wednesday. It’s up to a judge to make the determination if a minor’s release from custody is appropriate, including a consideration about whether the child poses an urgent risk to themselves or others.
Electronic monitoring was being sought as an alternative for some detained youths, and private attorneys were bringing requests on behalf of individual clients.
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Parry said there is concern not only about the spread of the virus in the center, but the increased isolation for youths housed there as schooling and visits have been canceled as a precaution against the virus.
All youth have instructional packets from the Chicago Public Schools. Medical and mental health services continue to be provided and staff was trying to provide programming to the youth via video.
Time for phone calls had been increased, and cleaning and sanitation supplies have been made available, officials said. Recreational time also is still being allowed, officials said.
Parry said the smaller caseload in juvenile court, compared to adult court, is such that the judges are aware of each minor’s background, which makes the assessment on safety and flight risk somewhat easier to manage.
“Every judge knows every one of these kids,” Parry said. “These are cases that have been under review.”
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said in a statement Tuesday that her office was reviewing the cases as well.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to reduce the in-custody population and protect public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cook County state’s attorney’s office is urgently reviewing juvenile detention cases brought to us by the public defender and private attorneys,” the statement read.
No cases of COVID-19 have been reported inside the juvenile center. Two detainees at Cook County Jail as well as a jail guard have tested positive, officials said.
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The pandemic has touched off great concern from advocates and officials alike about the potential of a widespread outbreak inside prisons and jails, which are confined spaces that make social distancing a challenge, if not impossible. Concerns over access to soap and sanitizers have also been raised.
So far Cook County officials have identified more than 100 adult inmates at the jail for potential early release, with a focus on those who do not pose a threat to public safety but have health issues, those who are older or those being held on bonds that they can’t afford. Hearings for those detainees were continuing this week.
asweeney@chicagotribune.com
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-24--Watch live: Members of the coronavirus task force hold a press briefing

Watch live as members of the coronavirus task force provide an update on the coronavirus outbreak in a news briefing @ @ @ @ @ .
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chicagotribune--2020-03-24--Police answer a different call, assisting food pantry fighting to serve during coronavirus threat

“ The city and the ( police ) department as a whole is going through a difficult period and this @ @ @ @ @ of the more challenged communities within the city as we see it , needs all @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Harrison district Lt. Jason Brown , one of the officers who helped @ @ @ @

Chicago police Officer Frank Johnson works with sister Jaime Mitchell, right, and others to pack bags of food into a wagon on March 24, 2020, at Mission of Our Lady of the Angels in Humboldt Park. Chicago police assisted the church in delivering the supplies to senior citizens who couldn't visit the regular food pantry due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels to close its regular food pantry to needy families, the Rev. Bob Lombardo and his staff were determined to somehow keep it going.
So while practicing social distancing, the historic Roman Catholic church on the West Side still held its weekly food giveaway on its grounds Tuesday morning, but just took it outside.
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“You never know when something is going to prop up of this nature,” said Lombardo, clad in a University of Notre Dame stocking cap, clasping a bullhorn in yellow rubber gloves. “But when it does, you just spring into action and you adapt as you need to adapt.”
But there was another obstacle. There are many in the church’s Humboldt Park area, including seniors and those with physical disabilities, who couldn’t come to the pantry safely because they are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus.
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So, with the help of Chicago police officers, part of the pantry went to them.
Several officers from the Harrison patrol district, with the support of their commander, Darrell Spencer, packed one of the police vehicles known as squadrols with more than 100 bags packed with food, much of which was distributed at a home for seniors in the neighborhood.
Chicago police Officer Jeffrey Dohnal helps Sister Stephanie Baliga move bags of food. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
“The city and the (police) department as a whole is going through a difficult period and this neighborhood, which is one of the more challenged communities within the city as we see it, needs all the help they can get,” said Harrison district Lt. Jason Brown, one of the officers who helped pack things up.
“We’re kind of in uncharted waters,” Brown said. “I think given that, we have to take a different approach to how we police and what policing really means.”
Back at the pantry, Lombardo said the church provided food for about 300 families. At one point a line stretched around the church building, with people keeping a safe distance from each other. The church’s mission outreach center was built over the site of the former Our Lady of the Angels school, where a devastating fire killed 92 children and three nuns on Dec. 1, 1958.
Like Lombardo, some patrons at the pantry on Tuesday sported rubber gloves. Some also wore masks to cover their mouths. They grabbed shopping carts and picked out an assortment of vegetables, meats, breads, canned goods and other foods packed in plastic bags sitting on tables.
A young woman wearing a mask walked across the street carrying packaged food with a young man.
“Thank you so much!” she called to one of the pantry helpers.
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Sister Jaime Mitchell helps pack bags of food for seniors. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago police Officers Tim Philbin, from left, Alex Miranda and Lt. Jason Brown use an assembly line to pack bags of food into a wagon. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Dwayne Thomas briefly waited in line outside with a cart to pick up some packaged food from one of the tables. He said he understood the risks of keeping his space in a crowd.
“Too many people and you don’t want to be bunched up,” he said. “You never know who has what.”
Sister Stephanie Baliga said the food pantry not only serves Humboldt Park, but also people from the Austin community to the west and other neighborhoods. She said the area around the church has residents who are unemployed or clinging to their jobs.
“So their income is crashed,” Baliga said. “And then all their kids are at home, obviously because they’re not in school. So they lost a lot of food sources.”
“We know that the food gap is growing every day, that people aren’t able to get the food that they need, especially for their kids, and then the elderly who can’t leave their house,” she said. “So we’re just trying to do the best we can because we already know that’s happening to fill whatever gaps we possibly can.”
jgorner@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-24--Oak Park homeless shelter quickly shuts after employee tests positive for COVID-19

Previously scheduled shelter volunteers and meal providers are no longer needed at the Oak Park Temple site , officials said @ @ @ @ @ would likely reach out to volunteers in the coming days once its current needs are @ @

Oak Park-based Housing Forward announced it has closed its homeless shelter at Oak Park Temple after one of its staff members tested positive for COVID-19. In total, 64 clients were moved to 'individual accommodations' on March 22, officials said. (Housing Forward / HANDOUT)
Oak Park-based nonprofit organization Housing Forward announced it has relocated 64 people from one of its homeless shelters after a staff member tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
According to a post on the agency’s website, the 24-hour shelter site at Oak Park Temple, 1235 N. Harlem Ave., has been closed and 64 clients moved to “individual accommodations” on March 22.
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The employee is at home recovering, officials said.
Housing Forward spokesman Erik Johnson said the agency learned about the positive test on Saturday, and immediately contacted the village of Oak Park, and the village and Cook County health departments.
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“We pulled this group together to process this information,” Johnson said. “I have to hand it to all these partner organizations to stop what they were doing on a Saturday to work with us and do a situation analysis and figure out what’s the best response.”
Johnson said the staff member had been in the shelter for just one day, and anyone who may have had contact with the staff member was notified about the positive test.
“We have communicated with everybody,” Johnson said. “Only one of our volunteers came in close contact with the staff member. They are at home showing no symptoms, but are monitoring themselves.”
After closing the shelter, Johnson said clients were moved to new accommodations with help from private landlords and nearby hotels and motels.
Previously scheduled shelter volunteers and meal providers are no longer needed at the Oak Park Temple site, officials said. The agency said it would likely reach out to volunteers in the coming days once its current needs are determined.
Out of an abundance of caution, Housing Forward is asking its employees and team members to work from home beginning this week.
sschering@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter: @steveschering


chicagotribune--2020-03-24--Nurse says she was fired by Northwestern Memorial Hospital after warning co-workers that face masks

Nurse says she was fired by Northwestern Memorial Hospital after warning co-workers that face masks being used were not the safest

Mazurkiewicz said she had her own box of N95 masks at home but did not see any available in her @ @ @ @ @ “ Hospitals should have been better prepared , ” she said .
“ They should @ @ @ @ @ the front line .
”

Particulate respirator N95 masks are shown in a supply area at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Florida, on March 10, 2020. (Eve Edelheit/The New York Times)
A nurse is suing Northwestern Memorial Hospital, saying she was fired after warning fellow employees the masks provided by the hospital would not properly protect them against the coronavirus.
Lauri Mazurkiewicz alleges that Northwestern required staff to wear a type of mask “less safe and less effective” than the N95 model. In fact, she says, staff were specifically not allowed to wear the N95 mask on hospital grounds.
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Mazurkiewicz said she raised concerns when the hospital began treating patients for the coronavirus this month and she was exposed to people diagnosed with the highly contagious and sometimes fatal disease.
Mazurkiewicz said she sent an email to about 50 fellow employees last Wednesday, warning them that the N95 face masks were “safer and more effective” than masks provided by the hospital. The next day, Mazurkiewicz said she wore an N95 mask to the hospital and was fired.
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“I just wanted to be a good nurse,” Mazurkiewicz said at a news conference Tuesday held with reporters on Skype.
The hospital said it would have no comment on the lawsuit except to say “we take these matters seriously and we are currently reviewing the complaint.
The “Particulate Respirator N95,” as it’s formally called, can filter out at least 95% of particles in the air, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N95 masks adhere tightly to the face and require annual fittings to ensure the mask is properly sealed.
Surgical masks, on the other hand, are loosefitting and only protect against large droplets, according to the CDC. Worldwide, doctors have reported a shortage of personal protective equipment, including N95 masks. In the Chicago area, a number of stores have sold out of N95 masks and are struggling to restock.
Mazurkiewicz said she had her own box of N95 masks at home but did not see any available in her unit at the hospital. “Hospitals should have been better prepared,” she said. “They should have been able to protect the front line.”
Mazurkiewicz said she began experiencing coronaviruslike symptoms last week and went to the hospital Sunday because of difficulty breathing. She did not test positive for coronavirus but said she is still concerned about her health.
Mazurkiewicz’s lawyers filed the lawsuit against the hospital and a number of employees Monday in Cook County Circuit Court. The lawsuit asks for at least $50,000 in damages.


chicagotribune--2020-03-24--Dogs running around a park? Unclogging the shower? Sports announcers are getting in their reps on Tw

Dogs running around a park? Unclogging the shower? Sports announcers are getting in their reps on Twitter during the shutdown.

Now , their daily musings — dad as the main announcer , daughter as the analytical sidekick who begins her @ @ @ @ @ Mark ... '' — are getting more than 100,000 views , and are being enjoyed @ @ @ @ @ such as Australia captain Aaron Finch and former England captain Nasser Hussain .
Perhaps most @ @ @ @ @ are providing some light relief for those craving a bit of sport in their life @

Mark Church was sitting on the end of his bed, coming to terms with the devastating effect the coronavirus outbreak would have on his job as a cricket announcer, when he picked up his phone and did what he does best.
“To cheer myself up,” Church recalls, “I just did a bit of commentary to myself.”
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After posting the short video recording on Twitter — of a wicket taken during the 1985 Ashes series — he got his 70-year-old mother to take part in some clips too. What really sent his notifications “through the roof” was when his 10-year-old daughter, Isabelle, became involved in what he has now labeled “#commentaryathome.”
"We had a 20-minute window before school and I just gave her a few pointers," Church, a freelancer who works for the BBC among others, said. "I was thinking to myself, 'She will never get this right, bless her.' But she nailed it in one take."
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Good morning..today it’s the 1993 Ashes Series..2nd day at Old Trafford..Mike Gatting is batting and the ball has just been given to a young man called @ShaneWarne #commentaryathome 🏏🏏🏏🎤🎤🎤 pic.twitter.com/sHuwNWvhR5 — Mark Church (@backandacross) March 20, 2020
Now, their daily musings — dad as the main announcer, daughter as the analytical sidekick who begins her comments with "well, Mark..." — are getting more than 100,000 views, and are being enjoyed and shared by cricket stars such as Australia captain Aaron Finch and former England captain Nasser Hussain. Perhaps most important of all, they are providing some light relief for those craving a bit of sport in their life.
Good morning...today we head to Brisbane and the opening day of the 2002/2003 Ashes Series bewtween @englandcricket and @CricketAus ..it is nearly time for the all important toss of the coin #commentaryathome 🏏🏏🎤🎤 pic.twitter.com/9nFjUGCvIA — Mark Church (@backandacross) March 23, 2020
The global lockdown of sports means it is a strange time not just for athletes but also those who describe the action to the watching public. For announcers like Church, no sport equals no pay. No distractions, either.
So it's time to get creative.
"I completely understand that what people want at the moment is information. Information, information, information," said Church, who likely won't be back at work until June at the earliest, with the start of the cricket season delayed. "But then I think at some point, there'll have to become a distraction on top of the information."
That’s exactly what Nick Heath is delivering. A freelance rugby announcer in the UK who calls matches for Sky Sports and Channel Four among other broadcasters, Heath is helping to fill the void in his working life by providing parody commentary on mundane and everyday things, like dogs running around in a park and people crossing the road , or buying groceries at a market.
They are proving a revelation, garnering a combined total of more than 2 million views and more than tripling Heath's Twitter following in a matter of days.
"It turns out that in these slightly curious times, the world desperately needed some levity," Heath said in a phone interview, "and also needed to scratch the itch of not having any actual sport."
Heath, who has received some "tempting" inquiries from people in the entertainment world on the back of his videos, has been left humbled by the reaction from those working on the front line during the pandemic.
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"They are saying, 'I've got home from work and it's the first time I've managed to laugh all day, so thank you so much,'" Heath said. "For this to be the positive collateral effect is phenomenal."
Then there's Clive Tyldesley, one of the best-known soccer commentators in Britain. With much of the country now working from home or in isolation, he has been doing regular "household commentaries" of chores such as cooking and unclogging the shower tray, and posting them on social media.
By popular demand, more household commentary. Today we are live at the shower tray unclogging... https://t.co/5bMJ9fbUCj — Clive Tyldesley (@CliveTyldesley) March 17, 2020
These amusing videos are doing more than brightening the days of frustrated sports fans. They are a form of practice for the announcers themselves, who need to keep their voices in shape like athletes need to exercise.
"It's keeping my hand in," Church said. "I can think to myself, 'At least I've done something constructive today.' I'm treating it like a net before we get back out there in the middle."
Joe Buck feels the same. One of the top NFL commentators, Buck is doing commentary on videos his large Twitter following send in, describing them as "practice reps" during quarantine. He takes it up a notch by including slow-motion replays.
Here we go...first up is @minakimes and a half-eaten football. Please reply and tag with the charity that you are donating to!!! More to come! pic.twitter.com/q8BuYuutbr — Joe Buck (@Buck) March 24, 2020
This one might make @patriots fans a bit sad…although Brady wishes he had these moves. @Brogan1197 tag your charity and take care of those boys, I might be seeing them on a Sunday one day! pic.twitter.com/bROi7PPwDE — Joe Buck (@Buck) March 24, 2020
One thing these videos don't do for freelance announcers, though, is bring in any money. And in the UK, for example, the self-employed, who make up 15% of the labor market, have not had their wages protected by the government among its raft of unprecedented financial measures to help workers during the outbreak.
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Things are precarious for people like Church, who knows there "will come a point when I have to come up with something."
Patrick Kendrick is an Italy-based sports announcer who has seen all his commentary assignments canceled because of the coronavirus.
He has decided to "take a break from football" as a result. And with his parallel career as a conference interpreter also wiped out, he is using his spare time to work on his Portuguese ahead of an exam this year.
"For the moment, I'm living off my income from the first part of this year -- invoices tend to be paid sporadically anyway so I probably won't feel the effects of the situation financially until later in the year," Kendrick said.
He is, however, "resuming English teaching as a short-term measure."
"The next few months will be tough for freelancers," Kendrick said, "but those are the risks you take when you're self-employed."
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In the meantime, Church and Heath will continue to entertain their growing number of followers with their wit and creativity.
“I just hope that by the time sport does reappear,” Heath said, “any of my former employers still take me seriously as a commentator.”


chicagotribune--2020-03-24--Temporary coronavirus testing site set up outside Burr Ridge medical practice

People who have symptoms , such as shortness of breath , a fever or cough , should call Metro Infectious @ @ @ @ @ 655-8032 or ( 630 ) 654-4201 to find out if they qualify for a test @ @ @ @ @ call their doctor who would evaluate whether they meet the criteria for testing .
Individuals @ @ @ @ @ tent in Burr Ridge without being screened over the phone and having a medical professional @ @ @ @

A Burr Ridge medical company specializing in infectious diseases is offering drive-up testing for the coronavirus from a tent set up outside its offices near the Burr Ridge Village Center.
Metro Infectious Disease Consultants, at 901 McClintock Drive, on Monday started testing people who have been screened and determined to have symptoms that could indicate they are infected with COVID-19. Testing will occur from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday.
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Dr. Russell Petrak, a member of the Metro Infectious Disease practice and a Burr Ridge resident, said they took 13 oral samples and sent them to Quest Diagnostics for testing. The results should be available in one to two days, depending on how many samples Quest received at that time. Quest is providing the test kits, Petrak said.
A person drives up to get tested for COVID-19 outside Metro Infectious Disease Consultants' office in Burr Ridge. (Mike Mantucca / Pioneer Press)
The Metro staff will take a nasal swab or an oral swab, depending on what coronavirus test they have available that day.
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“We continue to order them on a daily basis,” Petrak said.
People who have symptoms, such as shortness of breath, a fever or cough, should call Metro Infectious Disease at (630) 655-8032 or (630) 654-4201 to find out if they qualify for a test. A person could also call their doctor who would evaluate whether they meet the criteria for testing. Individuals should not go to the tent in Burr Ridge without being screened over the phone and having a medical professional recommend they go.
“You cannot be tested until you first call in and qualify for a test,” Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso stated in a message to residents. “We are encouraging people to be tested if they have symptoms."
Dr. Robert Fliegelman of Metro Infectious Disease Consultants in Burr Ridge prepares a COVID-19 test for a patient inside a vehicle. (Mike Mantucca / Pioneer Press)
Temporary testing locations, such as the tent in Burr Ridge, help ease the burden on hospitals, Grasso said. While there is no cure for the virus, if a person knows he or she is infected, that should convince them to quarantine at home, Grasso said.
The Centers for Disease Control also has an online screening checklist.
According to its website, Metro Infectious Disease Consultants has more than 100 physicians working across the county. They treat pneumonia and a variety of infections including in patients’ bones, bloodstream, skin and soft tissues and heart valves, Petrak said.
The company has 12 offices in Illinois, but is operating a temporary coronavirus testing site only outside its Burr Ridge headquarters because that is where the most employees are available to staff it, Petrak said.
People, who have been pre-screened as potentially infected with the coronavirus, can be tested at a drive-up site in Burr Ridge. (Mike Mantucca / Pioneer Press)
Separately, several Burr Ridge doctors have volunteered to make house calls to senior residents who have mobility or transportation problems and do not have a doctor they consult.
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“If you are a patient of a doctor or medical practice, call them first and rely on their care and instructions,” Grasso advised the community on the village website. If a resident has no doctor, the doctors who have volunteered may be able to perform a wellness check on them at no charge, Grasso said. They will not diagnose or test for COVID-19.
Burr Ridge has many residents with professional experience relevant to responding to the coronavirus crisis, Grasso said.
“We are trying to put that expertise to good use here,” Grasso said.
For more information, look at the Burr Ridge website.


chicagotribune--2020-03-24--Man charged with stealing Jeep from Hinsdale home — his second arrest in a week in DuPage County, au

Man charged with stealing Jeep from Hinsdale home — his second arrest in a week in DuPage County, authorities say

Petty , whose last known address was in the 13500 block of South Brandon Street in Chicago , was arrested @ @ @ @ @ to a call about 10 p.m. for a subject entering a home on the 200 @ @ @ @ @ A short time earlier , a resident in the 100 block of Lincoln Street reported @ @ @ @ @ then covering up the doorbell camera .
The resident also reported seeing someone peering through @ @ @ @ @ .

Dustin Petty, 49, whose last known address was in the 3500 block of South Brandon Street in Chicago, is accused of stealing a vehicle in Hinsdale March 21, 2020 and other offenses. (Hinsdale Police Department)
A man who was charged a week earlier with car burglary in Westmont, entered a Hinsdale home Saturday night while the residents were asleep, found the keys to the Jeep Wrangler in their garage and stole the vehicle.
Dustin R. Petty, who turned 49 Tuesday, appeared in court Monday, where Judge Brian Telander set his bail at $100,000 on charges of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, burglary and identity theft, according to court records.
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Petty, whose last known address was in the 13500 block of South Brandon Street in Chicago, was arrested Saturday after Hinsdale police responded to a call about 10 p.m. for a subject entering a home on the 200 block of Washington Street. A short time earlier, a resident in the 100 block of Lincoln Street reported someone ringing their doorbell and then covering up the doorbell camera. The resident also reported seeing someone peering through a window, prosecutors said.
Dustin Petty was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, burglary and identity theft, according to DuPage County court records. Petty allegedly entered a home in Hinsdale and stole a vehicle March 21, 2020. (DuPage County sheriffs dept. / HANDOUT)
Hinsdale authorities said between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. March 21 Petty was at three homes on the 100 block of North Lincoln and homes on the 200 block of North Lincoln, the 100 block of Washington and the house on the 200 block of Washington which he entered through an unlocked door, while the residents were sleeping upstairs, Hinsdale Deputy Police Chief Thomas Lillie said.
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Authorities credit a resident who made a timely call to the police and provided video images from a doorbell security camera for the quick identification and arrest of Petty.
Petty was recognized from an arrest Westmont police made March 15, Hinsdale Police Chief Brian King said in a statement.
Westmont police found Petty a short time later at a Speedway station on Cass Avenue in Westmont. Hinsdale and Westmont officers also recovered the Jeep Wrangler in the gas station parking lot and cellphones, a credit card and an ID reported taken from the same home.
Items reported stolen in other burglaries, such as purses and a computer laptop, were recovered, Hinsdale police said.
Petty, who was charged March 15 with entering two vehicles in Westmont, criminal trespass and possession of a crack pipe, according to court records, had been released on a $25,000 personal recognizance bond. Petty is scheduled for arraignment May 15.
Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.