chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: 587 new COVID-19 cases and 37 additional fatalities reported; U. of

Coronavirus in Illinois updates: 587 new COVID-19 cases and 37 additional fatalities reported; U. of I. starts offering saliva-based tests at Urbana-Champaign campus

“ The original cotillion date was April 25 , but then we changed it to June 13 , and then @ @ @ @ @ first weekend in August , and then we said this isn ’ t going to @ @ @ @ @ 2020 Cotillion chair and The Links member Dr. Joy West .
Originally scheduled to be @ @ @ @ @ under the theme of “ Diamonds and Pearls , ” the cotillion is now planned @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This was devastating for us , basically because of the families .
The @ @ @ @ @ ”

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The Fulton Market area of Chicago is no longer the ghost town it was during the depths of the COVID-19 virus pandemic shutdown. As restrictions on restaurants are eased, a worker takes a woman's temperature before she can enter Federales restaurant on Morgan Street on July 1, 2020. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Illinois announced 37 new deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday, more than the daily totals from over the long holiday weekend but still well below the number of daily deaths during May and June. The state also announced 587 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and the results of 26,994 tests.
Meanwhile, a new saliva-based COVID-19 test, developed by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, debuted Tuesday as UIUC students and faculty were invited to experience it for themselves. School leaders have set a goal of offering 10,000 tests per day by Aug. 24, when in-person classes start up again. But questions about the tests linger.
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[ How to assess your COVID-19 risk when going out in public: Use this chart ]
[ Phase four of Illinois’s COVID-19 reopening: Settle in, folks, we may be here a while ]
[ Illinois enters phase 4 of reopening plan. Here’s a guide to what’s allowed. ]
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
Here’s what’s happening Tuesday regarding COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
6:41 p.m.: Orland Park sets guidelines for broader reopening after judge voids governor’s COVID-19 orders
Orland Park bars, restaurants and other businesses could reopen to full capacity before the end of the month under a plan approved by village trustees.
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The village’s Back-to-Normal Plan, first crafted in late April, suggests a more accelerated timeline for reopening the village compared with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois roadmap for easing COVID-19 restrictions.
Orland Park officials believe they have authority to offer their own guidelines for a local restoration of business activity after a southern Illinois judge last week voided the governor’s executive orders that restrict the activities of residents or businesses.
The village last month sued Pritzker in federal court, alleging he overstepped his authority in extending an initial disaster declaration.
Following the filing of the lawsuit, the village sought a temporary restraining order to block continued implementation of COVID-19 restrictions. A judge is considering the request and the next hearing is scheduled for July 29, according to a recent court filing.
Working in conjunction with other area mayors and local health experts, Orland Park officials had created the Back-to-Normal plan and had sent it to Pritzker. It basically shortens the window for moving from one phase to another but in other respects mirrors the Restore Illinois reopening plan.
Trustees including Michael Milani said they supported the plan.
“We gotta do something to keep progressing forward,” he said. “We want to do things that follow the science.”
Several residents at the meeting criticized the village for the lawsuit against Pritzker and for going ahead with large-scale summer events such as concerts and Taste of Orland, scheduled for July 31 through Aug. 2.
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Read more here. —Mike Nolan
5:50 p.m.: Lake Zurich High School shuts down sports camps after students test positive for COVID-19
Student athletes at three Lake Zurich High School summer camps tested positive for the novel coronavirus, leading the camps to be canceled for the rest of the week, the athletic director said in a letter to families Tuesday.
The letter, which went to those participating in all the high school’s sports camps, does not say how many students tested positive.
The Lake County Health Department is working with “at least one other school district in Lake County” that has had positive COVID-19 test results, spokeswoman Hannah Goering said, declining to identify the other school districts.
“(I)t is important that we investigate first to verify cases reported to us, work with the school district to identify and notify contacts, and allow districts to communicate directly with families rather than families hear about cases via the media,” she said. She later added: “Our focus right now is on thorough investigation and contact tracing so that any student who may have had contact with an infected person is notified and takes appropriate precautions.”
Lake Zurich School District 95 was notified by families of students on the football, poms and baseball teams that the students had tested positive, Athletic Director Andrew Lambert said in the Tuesday letter. The students had gotten tested because they had been in contact with someone who also tested positive.
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The families learned of the results Monday, after the first day of sports camps, Lambert said.
Read more here. —Emily Coleman
4:46 p.m.: Trump administration sends formal notice of withdrawal from WHO
The Trump administration has formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, although the pullout won’t take effect until next year, meaning it could be rescinded under a new administration or if circumstances change. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said he would reverse the decision on his first day in office if elected.
The withdrawal notification makes good on President Donald Trump’s vow in late May to terminate U.S. participation in the WHO, which he has harshly criticized for its response to the coronavirus pandemic and accused of bowing to Chinese influence.
The move was immediately assailed by health officials and critics of the administration, including numerous Democrats who said it would cost the U.S. influence in the global arena.
Biden has said in the past he supports the WHO and pledged Tuesday to rejoin the WHO if he defeats Trump in November. “Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as president, I will rejoin the WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage,” he said.
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Trump is trailing Biden in multiple polls and has sought to deflect criticism of his administration's handling of the virus by aggressively attacking China and the WHO.
The withdrawal notice was sent to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday and will take effect in a year, on July 6, 2021, the State Department and the United Nations said on Tuesday.
Read more here. —Associated Press
4:20 p.m.: Trump intends to reopen schools this fall despite COVID-19 pandemic
President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched an all-out effort to reopen schools this fall, arguing that some are keeping schools closed not because of the coronavirus pandemic, but for political reasons against the will of families.
“We want to reopen the schools. Everybody wants it. The moms want it, the dads want it, the kids want it. It’s time to do it,” Trump said at a White House event. “We’re very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools.”
At a White House roundtable hosted by Trump, speaker after speaker addressed the need to get students back in the classroom, both for academic and mental health reasons. They minimized the risk of the spread of COVID-19 among children but acknowledged that it was important to protect the vulnerable.
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In making its case, the Trump administration has argued that keeping students at home carries greater risks than any tied to the coronavirus. Health officials say students need to be in schools this fall to continue their educational development and to access meal programs and services for mental and behavioral health.
“Children’s mental health and social development must be as much of a priority as physical health,” first lady Melania Trump said at the roundtable. “The same is true for parents. Many will be forced to make stressful choices between caring for their children and going back to work.”
Read more here. —Associated Press
3:30 p.m.: Lender halts funding for Helmut Jahn-designed skyscraper on Michigan Avenue, putting project in doubt
A Helmut Jahn-designed skyscraper along South Michigan Avenue is on hold at least until September and buyers of the luxury units are being offered some of their deposits back, after the project’s lender stopped funding its construction.
The latest delay, resulting from economic concerns tied to the coronavirus pandemic, raises questions about the viability of the biggest condo project to break ground in Chicago in more than a decade.
At 74 stories and an expected cost of $470 million, the 1000M tower would be difficult to pull off even in the best of times.
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It would not be the first audacious project in Chicago to succumb to a case of bad economic timing. The most memorable is the 2,000-foot-tall, Santiago Calatrava-designed Chicago Spire, a project that fell apart after breaking ground and became a global cautionary tale about the fickleness of construction cycles.
Read more here. —Ryan Ori
2:35 p.m.: 587 new COVID-19 cases and 37 additional fatalities reported
Illinois health officials on Tuesday announced 587 new known cases of COVID-19 and 37 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known cases to 148,452 and the statewide death toll to 7,063 since the start of the pandemic. Officials also reported 26,994 new tests in the last 24 hours. The seven-day statewide positivity rate is 2.5%.
1:53 p.m.: U. of I. starts offering saliva-based COVID-19 tests at Urbana-Champaign campus, but won’t say if students are required to take them
The directions are simple: Step into a tent on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus, drop dribbles of saliva into a test tube and wait for the results within about 24 hours.
The new COVID-19 test, developed by researchers at UIUC, debuted Tuesday as students and faculty were invited to experience it for themselves. School leaders have set a goal of offering 10,000 tests per day by Aug. 24, when in-person classes start up again.
“I wanted to come give it a shot,” said a recent graduate student who got tested but asked that his name not be used for privacy reasons. “It seems easier than sticking something in your nose. ... It seems pretty seamless. I think it will work on scale too. As long as it’s accurate, it seems like it will help the university get back.”
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The ability to conduct a large volume of tests and process them quickly is a core feature of UIUC’s reopening plan, which aims to allow thousands of college students to return and safely resume their studies on campus amid the pandemic this fall. Students can choose to remain off-campus and take classes online.
But questions about the tests linger: It’s not clear if students will be required to undergo testing, and the school has yet to receive federal approval to expand testing beyond the university community, though one of its labs is certified to analyze results.
Read more here. —Elyssa Cherney
1:35 p.m.: Face masks in school likely to be mandatory, so it is time kids get used to them now, officials say
Face coverings likely will become part of the required dress code for students at schools in the fall, and parents might want to start getting their children accustomed to wearing them now, officials said.
As per the reopening guidelines from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health, all individuals in school buildings, including all public and nonpublic schools that serve students in prekindergarten through grade 12, must wear face coverings at all times.
The only exceptions are for children younger than 2 years of age; those who have trouble breathing; or those who are unable to remove the cover without assistance.
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The requirement to cover the face is a hot button issue in the Naperville school community.
Thirty of the 36 people who provided public comments at a recent Naperville District 203 board meeting addressed the use of masks or personal protection equipment.
Lauren Stone, assistant professor of occupational therapy at North Central College in Naperville, said summer is the perfect time for parents to begin conversations with their children about face coverings.
Read more here. —Suzanne Baker
1:25 p.m.: A COVID-19 testing delay pushes back the start of today’s Cubs workout
The Chicago Cubs delayed the start of Tuesday’s summer camp so they could complete all their scheduled COVID-19 testing.
The delay occurred one day after slugger Kris Bryant was among several players who voiced disappointment in the lack of frequency in testing.
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“We’re supposed to get those results a little bit later, so we pushed the players to come in a little bit later,” manager David Ross said today.
The players will be tested after the South Bend group — the Cubs’ taxi squad — completes their round of testing. A three-inning intrasquad game will start at least an hour later at Wrigley now, and will consist of relievers handling the pitching, Ross said.
“I think just once we get on this track and adjusting a little bit to what had happened last week, it’ll just put us in a better place,” Ross said. “Rather than bringing guys in and being unsure. It’s just better to wait on our end, and it’s not really a huge adjustment.”
Despite the gaps in testing and player discontent, Ross doesn’t expect any of his players to opt out — for now.
“Do I have any concerns of them opting out?” he replied. “No, but that could change within a day. That’s where we’re at in the world, and in the world of baseball. I just try to take it day-to-day and let these guys come in, try to make them feel safe as much as we can, continue to communicate them and try to try to handle any concerns they might have.”
Read more here. —Mark Gonzales
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12:55 p.m.: DeVos tells governors she wants schools to reopen full-time in fall, even amid pandemic
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Tuesday assailed plans by some local districts to offer in-person instruction only a few days a week and said schools must be “fully operational” even amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Anything less, she says, would fail students and taxpayers.
DeVos made the comments during a call with governors as the Trump administration launched an all-out effort to get schools and colleges to reopen. Audio of the call was obtained by The Associated Press.
“Ultimately, it’s not a matter of if schools need to open, it’s a matter of how. School must reopen, they must be fully operational. And how that happens is best left to education and community leaders,” DeVos told governors.
Read more here. —Associated Press
12 p.m.: Chicago Fire’s 1st match of the MLS Is Back Tournament is postponed after Nashville SC experiences COVID-19 outbreak
The Chicago Fire’s first match of the MLS Is Back Tournament has been postponed because of a COVID-19 outbreak on opponent Nashville SC.
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Major League Soccer on Tuesday announced the match, originally scheduled for Wednesday night, has been pushed back after Nashville had five players test positive since arriving in Orlando, Fla., for the tournament. Four other players have received inconclusive test results, the league said.
MLS said it will evaluate Nashville’s participation in the tournament.
Read more here. —Jeremy Mikula
11:55 a.m.: Lake, Porter officials support pausing reopening as COVID-19 cases in Indiana continue to climb
Lake and Porter county officials are pleased with the Gov. Eric Holcomb’s decision to pause reopening the state as COVID-19 continue to rise.
On July 1, Holcomb announced that Indiana will keep capacity limits in place for restaurants, bars and entertainment – three days before the state was scheduled to fully reopen.
Holcomb said he was concerned about recent increases in hospitalizations across Indiana involving COVID-19 cases and other states that have seen fresh outbreaks after lifting restrictions on bars and other businesses. The restrictions will be in place until at least July 18. The state will also continue its current 250-person limit on social gatherings.
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Since June 12, restaurants have been allowed 75% capacity in their dining rooms, while bars, nightclubs, bowling alleys, museums and amusement parks have been open at half capacity.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said he supports the governor’s decision.
”I think the governor has made all the right calls,” McDermott said. “If he feels we have to pause, I support it.”
Read more here. —Alexandra Kukulka
10:10 a.m.: Cotillion group Links turns 60, but coming out has to wait until 2021 thanks to COVID-19
Twenty-one debutantes (14 high school seniors and seven juniors) spent a portion of their weekends from January until spring learning etiquette and things like how to waltz, how to tango, and how to curtsy. And when you add the young men who would be their escorts and backup escorts, that number more than doubles.
All the work was intended to lead to The Links Inc. Chicago chapter’s 60th annual Debutante Cotillion, a formal ball where the debutantes are presented to society with the support of their escorts, family and friends. But just like proms, graduations and other milestones for young people, coronavirus COVID-19 squashed this event.
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“The original cotillion date was April 25, but then we changed it to June 13, and then we changed it to the first weekend in August, and then we said this isn’t going to be accomplishable,” said 2020 Cotillion chair and The Links member Dr. Joy West. Originally scheduled to be held at the Fairmont Chicago under the theme of “Diamonds and Pearls,” the cotillion is now planned for May 1, 2021. “This was devastating for us, basically because of the families. The senior families in particular.”
Read more here. —Darcel Rockett
10:05 a.m.: Historic Sandwich Fair, oldest in Illinois since 1888, canceled due to pandemic
The 133rd edition of the Sandwich Fair - one of the oldest fairs in Illinois - will not be held this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"The Sandwich Fair has been continuous since 1888 and we have never had to cancel until this year," Sandwich Fair Association Board President Larry Dannewitz said.
The Sandwich Fair will next be held Sept. 8 to 12, 2021, at the fairgrounds off Route 34 on the west side of Sandwich, officials said.
Read more here. —Linda Girardi
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9:50 a.m.: PPE supply appears to be running low; DuPage County says hospitals reusing gear
The personal protective gear that was in dangerously short supply during the early weeks of the coronavirus crisis in the U.S. is running low again as the virus resumes its rapid spread and the number of hospitalized patients climbs.
A national nursing union is concerned that gear has to be reused. A doctors association warns that physicians’ offices are closed because they cannot get masks and other supplies. And Democratic members of Congress are pushing the Trump administration to devise a national strategy to acquire and distribute gear in anticipation of the crisis worsening into the fall.
In a letter to Congress last week, the health department in Illinois’ DuPage County said all hospitals in the county are reusing protective gear “in ways that were not originally intended and are probably less safe than the optimal use of PPE.”
The DuPage County department is a supplier of last resort that steps in when facilities have less than two weeks’ worth of gear. As of Monday, it had only nine days of some supplies at the current request level. A rise in new infections could make the supply go much faster.
Read more here. —Associated Press
8:55 a.m.: BrightFarms to increase capacity at Rochelle greenhouse by 40% as pandemic fuels demand for locally grown produce
BrightFarms is boosting capacity at its Chicago-area greenhouse as the pandemic-driven rise in cooking at home fuels demand for locally grown greens.
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BrightFarms’ Rochelle greenhouse, which annually supplies 1 million pounds of lettuce, spinach, arugula, basil and other greens to Mariano’s and other regional grocery stores, is increasing production by 40% by adding more hydroponic ponds to the two-acre facility, CEO Steve Platt said.
BrightFarms was seeing year-over-year sales growth of about 20% before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., but in March and April growth jumped to 40% as stay-at-home orders set in and customers flocked to grocery stores, Platt said. The at-home cooking trend has remained steady, with growth now leveled out above 30%.
”We’re seeing really great demand,” said Platt, whose company, based in Irvington, New York, has other greenhouses in Northern Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania and is building one in North Carolina. “The pandemic has supercharged that.”
Read more here. —Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz
6:53 a.m.: ‘The Blues Brothers’ Wauconda beach to reopen after 30 years
Wauconda’s iconic beach seen in the “The Blues Brothers” movie is set to open after a $3 million renovation and a delay because of coronavirus.
After a prolonged wait due to the coronavirus pandemic, the northeastern Illinois beach is set to open to the public Wednesday, the Daily Herald reported. The initial grand opening was envisioned for Memorial Day weekend.
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The beach, featured in the classic 1980 film "The Blues Brothers," was formerly a privately run attraction founded by the late Phil Froehlke in the 1920s.
Froelich's descendants closed the beach in 1990 due to rising insurance costs, but park district leaders preserved the site and took over when the family opted to sell in 2016.
The new Phil's Beach features a splash pad, a picnic pavilion, a concession stand, a bath house with changing rooms and showers, a boardwalk and other amenities. The iconic J-slide featured in the film will remain but only for photograph use.
Restrictions for the safety of customers will be set in place, including a capacity limit to 80 customers based on a first-come, first-served basis. Social distancing will be enforced and masks are recommended.
—Associated Press
6 a.m.: COVID-19 cases are spiking in states across the country. How does Illinois compare?
Across the country, states have either delayed reopening or reimposed restrictions amid surges in COVID-19 cases that have begun packing hospitals.
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Waiting on the sidelines, at least for now, is Illinois, where health officials are watching daily statistics uneasily as the state continues to allow its residents more freedom to travel, visit and shop.
Those statistics offer some good news for Illinoisans, at first blush: We’re far below peak case levels, and not even close to being as bad as the most struggling states. For example, Arizona’s rate of new cases, relative to the state’s population, is more than seven times Illinois'.
The bad news: Illinois’ big drops of late May and early June are history — and some daily metrics are increasing. As the state continues to uncover hundreds of new cases a day, at least one researcher said the state should consider adding more restrictions until it’s clear what’s going on.
Read more here. —Joe Mahr, Jonathon Berlin
Breaking coronavirus news Stay up to date with the latest information on coronavirus with our breaking news alerts.
Here are five things that happened Monday related to COVID-19.


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Waukegan protesters call on Congress to protect women in the military following death of Vanessa Gui

Waukegan protesters call on Congress to protect women in the military following death of Vanessa Guillen

Protesters called on Congress to pass a zero tolerance policy on sexual assault in the Armed Forces , which organizers @ @ @ @ @ death of 20-year-old Army specialist Vanessa Guillen .
She was killed and dismembered by Army @ @ @ @ @ , 20 , of Calumet City , who shot himself to death July 1 as @ @ @ @ @ him for Guillen ’ s murder , federal and military authorities have said .

Taylor Day and Amaryah Felder lead Monday evening's march in Waukegan, July 6, 2020. About 60 people turned out for the protest for 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier Vanessa Guillen, who authorities believe was killed on April 22, by an enlisted soldier from Calumet City at Fort Hood in Texas. (Brian O'Mahoney/News-Sun) (Brian OMahoney / Lake County News-Sun)
In solidarity with the family of a female soldier who authorities say was killed by a south suburban soldier, activists called an impromptu protest in Waukegan Monday to urge Congress to take action.
Protesters called on Congress to pass a zero tolerance policy on sexual assault in the Armed Forces, which organizers said might have prevented the death of 20-year-old Army specialist Vanessa Guillen. She was killed and dismembered by Army Spc. Aaron David Robinson, 20, of Calumet City, who shot himself to death July 1 as police were about to arrest him for Guillen’s murder, federal and military authorities have said.
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Karla Martinez said she attended the Waukegan rally because “a U.S. soldier shouldn’t just disappear without justice and answers.”
The Gurnee resident got goosebumps and teary-eyed while screaming Guillen’s name during the march, she said.
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“Nobody at the protest knew Vanessa personally, but we were all there to be her voice,” Martinez said.
Protesters march down Grand Avenue Monday evening in Waukegan, July 6, 2020. About 60 people turned out for the protest for 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier Vanessa Guillen, who authorities believe was killed on April 22, by another enlisted soldier at Fort Hood in Texas. The march began near the corner of Grand and Green Bay, and ended at the Lake County Courthouse. (Brian O'Mahoney/News-Sun) (Brian OMahoney / Lake County News-Sun)
Guillen’s family has repeatedly said she was being sexually harassed in the military.
“We believe that Vanessa told him that she was reporting him, and that’s why he bludgeoned her,” said Guillen family attorney, Natalie Khawam.
The Waukegan event, which included prayers and a moment of silence, started in a parking lot on the corner of Green Bay Road and Grand Avenue and travelled to the Lake County Courthouse in downtown Waukegan.
The group that gathered was made up of about 60 people who heard a message from Gurnee resident Eli Morales about military culture and sexual assault.
Morales said she believes Guillen’s leadership failed her when she needed protection and then failed her again when she disappeared. Her remains were found near the Leon River in Bell County, about 20 miles east of Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas.
“There should have been red flags,” Morales said. “In the Army, if you don’t show up for formation or you’re not where you’re supposed to be during a check, your chain of command notices.”
Eli Morales speaks to protesters at the start of Monday evening's march in Waukegan, July 6, 2020. About 60 people turned out for the protest for 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier Vanessa Guillen, who authorities believe was killed on April 22, by a Calumet City enlisted soldier at Fort Hood in Texas. (Brian O'Mahoney/News-Sun) (Brian OMahoney / Lake County News-Sun)
Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt, Fort Hood’s senior commander, said during a news conference Monday that the armed forces forensic examiner determined through DNA analysis that the remains belonged to Guillen. A day earlier, an attorney for Guillen’s family had said Army officials told the family at their Houston home that the remains were hers. Guillén was last seen on April 22.
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Fort Hood officials have said they logged hundreds of hours searching for Guillen after her disappearance.
But an investigation into the claims of sexual assault began months later on June 18.
“What happened to Vanessa goes against what the Army stands for,” Morales said. “A lot of people didn’t live up to those values.”
One of the chants Morales said she led the marching crowd with Monday night was, “Open up the cover up.”
Taylor Day, of Waukegan leads Monday evening’s march in Waukegan, July 6, 2020. About 60 people turned out for the protest for 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier Vanessa Guillén, who authorities believe was killed on April 22, by a Calumet City enlisted soldier at Fort Hood in Texas. (Brian O'Mahoney/News-Sun) (Brian OMahoney / Lake County News-Sun)
Guillen’s disappearance became international news after her family began to use social media outlets to campaign for officials to provide answers on her whereabouts.
The calls for action have only grown louder after the soldier’s dismembered remains were identified over the July 4 weekend holiday.
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On Twitter, the #IAmVanessaGuillen has generated countless stories from women and men in the Armed Forces who have shared their sexual assault experiences, with no consequences from their perpetrators.
Guillen’s story has created a movement that includes activists and celebrities, as well as lawmakers, who have stepped in to push for a change in the military culture, which they say downplays and ignores sexual harassment.
Eli Morales, of Park City speaks to protesters at the Lake County Courthouse at the end of Monday evening's march in Waukegan, July 6, 2020. About 60 people turned out for the protest for 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier Vanessa Guillen, who authorities believe was killed by a Calumet City soldier at Fort Hood in Texas. (Brian O'Mahoney/News-Sun) (Brian OMahoney / Lake County News-Sun)
Nearly 90 lawmakers have signed a letter from Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) demanding that the Pentagon launch an independent investigation into the Army’s handing of Guillen’s disappearance and murder.
“If there remains an environment where a victim fears retaliation for speaking up and perpetrators know they can get away with sexual assault, then nothing’s going to change,” said event organizer, Daniela Castellanos.
The Gurnee resident said people were asked to sign a petition for Congress to establish a Military Industry Regulatory Authority at the march and to spread the word for others to join them.
According to the Military Sexual Trauma Movement website, MIRA would allow victims to report sexual assault outside of their chain of command and provide protection for victims to prevent retaliation against them.
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The goal is to get 25,000 signatures, Castellanos said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 8,142 signatures were added on the mstmovement.org website.
During a press conference this week, Fort Hood officials said they will continue the investigation into the sexual harassment claims by Guillen’s family and take action on the findings.
Protesters march down Grand Avenue Monday evening in Waukegan, July 6, 2020. About 60 people turned out for the protest for 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier Vanessa Guillen, who authorities believe was killed on April 22, by another enlisted soldier at Fort Hood in Texas. The march began near the corner of Grand and Green Bay, and ended at the Lake County Courthouse. (Brian O'Mahoney/News-Sun) (Brian OMahoney / Lake County News-Sun)
Cecily Aguilar, a 22-year-old civilian from Killeen, has been arrested and charged with one count of conspiring to tamper with evidence for allegedly helping hide Guillen’s body.
Aguilar made her initial appearance Monday in federal court in Waco, saying that she understood the charge as read. If convicted, Aguilar faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Her next court date is scheduled for July 14.
Associated Press contributed to this report.


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Judge denies bail for man accused of being getaway driver in fatal shooting of 7-year-old Natalia Wa

Judge denies bail for man accused of being getaway driver in fatal shooting of 7-year-old Natalia Wallace in Chicago on July 4

But the judge countered that the gunmen exited the vehicle “ fully armed ” and that state law holds accomplices @ @ @ @ @ legally culpable .
Wallace acting for the getaway driver for three gunmen after the shooting @ @ @ @ @ “ some circumstantial evidence of knowledge of what was going to go down and what @ @ @ @

Nine-year-old Nathan Wallace holds balloons during a vigil July 5, 2020, for his 7-year-old sister Natalia Wallace, who was shot and killed as her family gathered to celebrate the July Fourth holiday in the South Austin neighborhood of Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
Bail was denied Tuesday for a man accused of shuttling gunmen from a West Side block after a 7-year-old girl was fatally shot during a violent July 4 holiday.
Reginald Merrill, 33, of the 5600 block of West Washington Boulevard, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery in the death of 7-year-old Natalia Wallace, police said. He was alleged to be the getaway driver and authorities said they were looking for three other suspects.
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Reginald Merrill (Chicago Police Department)
Merrill was taken into custody a little more than two hours after the shooting, police said, driving a car matching the description of one used in the shooting, which also injured a man.
Natalia, a resident of Chatham on the South Side, was on the sidewalk just after 7 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of North Latrobe Avenue, when a vehicle pulled up and people got out and started shooting toward where she was, police said in an early report.
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Judge Mary Marubio denied bail for Merrill, saying there was a strong circumstantial case against him.
Merrill allegedly was behind the wheel of the white 2016 Suburu Legacy that was captured on video at the scene of the shooting. Three men could be seen getting out with handguns and opening fire at a 32-year-old man walking on Latrobe. The vehicle is registered to Merrill’s girlfriend, authorities said.
Natalia Wallace, who was shot and killed Saturday evening in Chicago’s South Austin neighborhood, had completed her first grade year at Crown Community Academy of Fine Arts this spring. (Crown Academy)
Natalia was playing on the parkway with several young children in front of her grandparents’ home when shooting erupted. She was struck once in the head.
The shooting appeared related to retaliation for a June 29 shooting that left the brother of one of the three gunmen dead, according to prosecutors. Merrill and the gunmen are believed to be members of the “2 Risky” gang, who believed the killer they sought was from Latrobe, Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin DeBoni told the judge.
Detectives also located high-quality video from the block that showed the faces of all three shooters, he added.
Merrill’s alibi that he was at a barbecue during the shooting was quickly disproved, DeBoni said.
Merrill’s attorney, Nick Burris, argued that even if his client were the driver, there’s no proof that he knew what was going to happen.
A memorial is kept under protective plastic where 7-year-old Natalia Wallace was shot and killed in the 100 block of North Latrobe in Chicago's Austin neighborhood over the the Fourth of July weekend. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
But the judge countered that the gunmen exited the vehicle “fully armed” and that state law holds accomplices and getaway drivers as being legally culpable. Wallace acting for the getaway driver for three gunmen after the shooting, Marubio said, showed “some circumstantial evidence of knowledge of what was going to go down and what was happening.”
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Merrill is scheduled to return to court July 27.
Court records show he has seven felony convictions. Six were drug related. His one violent felony came in 2008, when he pleaded guilty to aggravated battery to a police officer and was sentenced to four years in prison.
Following the hearing, Natalia’s father said he was pleased to hear of the judge’s ruling, but won’t rest until the other shooters are brought to justice.
“Things are headed in the right direction. I know it’s a long road ahead, but I’m going to be there every step of the way,” Nathan Wallace said. “It’s just more senseless killing and its heartbreaking. I don’t understand anyone who would see kids and still take it upon themselves to still shoot.”
Natalia was due to start second grade at Crown Community Academy of Fine Arts.
After her killing, the school released a statement, attributed to Natalia’s first grade teacher:
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“Natalia was a very quiet and sweet little girl. She completed every assignment during class, got along with all of her peers, and colored the most precious pictures ever given to me. Natalia never hesitated to ask for clarity when needed. Sometimes, her quiet spirit gave her the strength to lead the reading lessons within her group, and she soared when it came to doing math. During e-learning, Natalia was always present and participating. At the end of each class session, she would type in the chat box, ‘I Love You.’ ”
wlee@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--The Spin: Sen. Duckworth responds to Tucker Carlson | Federal PPP recipients released | Details from

The Spin: Sen. Duckworth responds to Tucker Carlson | Federal PPP recipients released | Details from Mary Trump’s new tell-all emerge

“ The book , ‘ Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World ’ s Most @ @ @ @ @ a multigenerational saga of greed , betrayal and internecine tension and seeks to explain how @ @ @ @ @ one of New York ’ s wealthiest and most infamous real estate empires helped him @ @ @ @ @ referred to as ‘ twisted behaviors ’ — attributes like seeing other people in ‘ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ cheating as a way of life . '

In this file photo, Illinois US Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., speaks during a news conference at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on Jan. 7, 2019. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune/TNS)
Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth had some words for Fox News host Tucker Carlson after he questioned her patriotism.
Some heavy hitters are among the recipients of federal payroll protection loans this year, including nearly 4,000 Illinois businesses that were approved for loans of $1 million or more, according to newly released data from the Small Business Administration.
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The fight over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed constitutional amendment to overhaul the Illinois tax code is heating up — and getting more expensive.
And, details of President Donald Trump’s niece’s new book are coming out — and they’re not flattering to the nation’s commander in chief.
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Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., arrives at the Capitol for a close vote with her new daughter, Maile, bundled against the wind, in Washington on April 19, 2018. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Purple Heart recipient who lost both legs in a combat helicopter crash in Iraq, fired back at Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Twitter after he challenged her and other Democratic leaders’ patriotism and charged that they despise the country.
The volleys started when Carlson, in a nearly 14-minute segment, included Duckworth’s answer on CNN over the weekend when she was asked whether she also supported removing monuments honoring historical figures in U.S. history who were slave owners, such as George Washington.
In her response, which went on to criticize President Donald Trump’s recent appearance at Mount Rushmore, Duckworth said there should be a national dialogue on the issue at some point. When pressed, Duckworth said, “I think we should listen to everybody.”
On his show Monday night, Carlson noted that Duckworth is among the contenders to be Democrat Joe Biden’s running mate this fall and criticized her call for a national dialogue on the historical monuments issue.
“You’re not supposed to criticize Tammy Duckworth in any way because she once served in the military,” Carlson said. “Most people just ignore her. But when Duckworth does speak in public, you’re reminded what a deeply silly and unimpressive person she is.”
Read her response and the rest of the story here.
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If you missed Bill Ruthhart’s and Rick Pearson’s story last week about the possibility former Vice President Joe Biden picks Duckworth as his running mate, there’s still time to read it here.
Ald. Michele Smith, 43rd, pictured on Feb. 19, 2019, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
From the Tribune’s John Byrne: “Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s move to roll back rules to prevent elected officials from outside Chicago from lobbying the city is going nowhere for the time being.
Lincoln Park Ald. Michele Smith, whom the mayor picked to chair the City Council Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, said last week she has no plans to call Lightfoot’s ordinance for a vote.” Read the rest of Byrne’s story here.
* From the Tribune’s Sydney Czyzon: Ordinance to require more COVID-19 help for residents of large Chicago senior buildings sent to City Council for vote
Guests with face masks, due to the coronavirus pandemic precautions, enter at the South Gate as Brookfield Zoo reopens during a members-only preview on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. Only outdoor areas were open and face masks were required. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
From the Tribune’s Robert Channick: “The Small Business Administration on Monday released a list of some of the businesses approved for federal payroll protection loans, and a lot of prominent Chicago-area companies received funds to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.
“From museums and restaurants to law firms and supermarkets, nearly 4,000 Illinois businesses and nonprofits were approved for PPP loans worth $1 million or more, according to SBA data, which was published online. Others received smaller sums.
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“The Brookfield Zoo, Cubs sponsor Sloan Valve, Willow Creek Church and Baird & Warner are among the 255 Illinois organizations with PPP loans between $5 million and $10 million — the most allowed under the program.
“Other well-known Chicago-area companies approved for at least $1 million in PPP loans include Rosebud Restaurants, Pete’s Fresh Market, Steppenwolf Theatre and Encyclopaedia Britannica.” For the rest of the story, click here.
* For a closer look at the 27,412 Illinois companies that got PPP loans of more than $150,000, search our database here.
Todd Maisch, president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, speaks during a 2018 news conference in Addison. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
From the Tribune’s Jamie Munks: “The fight over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature policy initiative, moving Illinois to a graduated-rate income tax, is intensifying with about four months to go before voters decide the issue.
“A coalition of Illinois organizations that represent businesses launched an effort Tuesday to beat back the proposal, a move that follows Pritzker’s recent $51.5 million contribution to the ballot initiative committee that’s backing a shift from a flat state income tax to one that would impose higher rates on the highest earners.
“In a news conference held via Zoom on Tuesday, Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Todd Maisch wouldn’t say what the coalition is prepared to spend in its campaign against the proposed constitutional change.” Read the rest of the story here.
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Also, ICYMI from Dan Petrella: Pritzker contributes $51.5 million to committee seeking voter approval for graduated-rate income tax, records show
President Donald Trump listens during a "National Dialogue on Safely Reopening America's Schools" event in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. (Alex Brandon/AP)
From The New York Times: “Mary L. Trump, President Donald Trump’s niece, plans to publish a tell-all family memoir next week, describing how a decadeslong history of darkness, dysfunction and brutality turned her uncle into a reckless leader who, according to her publisher, Simon & Schuster, ‘now threatens the world’s health, economic security and social fabric.'
“The book, ‘Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,' depicts a multigenerational saga of greed, betrayal and internecine tension and seeks to explain how Trump’s position in one of New York’s wealthiest and most infamous real estate empires helped him acquire what Mary Trump has referred to as ‘twisted behaviors’ — attributes like seeing other people in ‘monetary terms’ and practicing ‘cheating as a way of life.'
“Mary Trump, who at 55 has long been estranged from Donald Trump, is the first member of the Trump clan to break ranks with her relatives by writing a book about their secrets. Since late June, her family — led by the president’s younger brother, Robert S. Trump — has been trying to stop the publication of the book, citing a confidentiality agreement that she signed nearly 20 years ago during a dispute over the will of the family patriarch, Fred Trump Sr., the president’s father. But a judge in New York has refused to enjoin Simon & Schuster from releasing the memoir and is expected to soon rule on whether Mary Trump herself violated the confidentiality agreement.” Read the rest here.
* From the AP: Joe Biden releases plan to shift medical equipment, pandemic supply production to the US
* Also from the AP: Trump intends to reopen schools this fall despite COVID-19 pandemic: ‘We’re very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else’
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chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Ordinance to require more COVID-19 help for residents of large Chicago senior buildings sent to City

Ordinance to require more COVID-19 help for residents of large Chicago senior buildings sent to City Council for vote

The Tribune found this spring that residents of low-income senior housing in Chicago were being kept in the dark about @ @ @ @ @ and that at least 90 people had died by late May in such buildings in @ @ @ @ @ does not require residents to be notified when someone dies of COVID-19 in their building @ @ @ @ @ deaths in the city is publicly available from the Cook County medical examiner ’ s @ @

Davetta Brooks, a 75-year-old resident of the Congressman George Collins Apartments in Chicago, is shown July 6, 2020. She is a member of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus and spoke out against poor conditions in her senior apartment building amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
In March, 75-year-old Davetta Brooks became worried when staff at her Chicago senior apartment building did not wear masks or gloves.
That was around the same time Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a stay-at-home order to guard against the spread of COVID-19. Brooks soon heard that staff members had been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
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“No type of wellness tests or testing came after that,” Brooks said Monday at a City Council hearing. “We were just left to fend for ourselves.”
Brooks shared her experience with members of the Committee on Health and Human Relations. The committee recommended Monday the full council approve an ordinance aimed at protecting residents of buildings for older Chicagoans from the pandemic.
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“It pains me to know that you all know and the management knew the impact of this COVID-19 on seniors,” Brooks told committee members. “Some of this could’ve been prevented. … We don’t know what’s going on. All we hear are the ambulances.”
Brooks is a member of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus, an organization aimed at addressing social justice issues. Her organization helped craft and finalize the ordinance, which would require personal protective equipment for staff members working with seniors. It also mandates frequent cleaning of buildings.
The Tribune found this spring that residents of low-income senior housing in Chicago were being kept in the dark about coronavirus deaths in their buildings and that at least 90 people had died by late May in such buildings in the city. The ordinance does not require residents to be notified when someone dies of COVID-19 in their building, although information about coronavirus deaths in the city is publicly available from the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Ald. Maria Hadden, 49th, a sponsor of the ordinance, said members of the senior caucus discussed the issue of not receiving notifications regarding deaths and illnesses in care facilities. But a provision to address this was not added because of questions about privacy, Hadden said.
The ordinance does require staff to conduct wellness checks on seniors multiple times a week, to ensuring residents have needed medications, food and working utilities. Wellness checks can combat the isolation brought on by COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, said Rebecca Murray, manager of clinical behavioral health at Oak Street Health.
A provision would require translations of all communication to residents in their primary languages.
A professional interpreter helped prepare a statement from Maria Perez, a Spanish speaker and member of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus. Perez lives in a Chicago senior apartment building.
For three months, Perez said she carried hot water from her kitchen to her bathroom, unable to tell her building manager there was an issue with her shower water. She recently had back surgery.
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“There is nothing — no communication in our languages, no services, no attention,” Perez said. “They think that we are disposable like trash. We have been abandoned.”
Hadden said she believes it is the duty of elected officials to work with residents in building solutions to issues.
“The pandemic has shaken us to the core, further revealing the gaps and the flaws in our social safety net and decision-making structures,” Hadden said.
“As now a representative of government, I almost feel like I have to apologize for government that we have not been as proactive on this — that we’re discussing it now during a pandemic,” said Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, one of more than a half-dozen aldermen who spoke at the hearing.
Recent data shows that infection and death rates in long-term care facilities are dropping. However, outbreaks in nursing homes, assisted living centers and other congregate-care facilities are linked to 55% of Illinois deaths from COVID-19.
Brooks said she hopes the ordinance will be passed to protect seniors.
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“Seniors aren’t buildings or ZIP codes,” she said. “We’re people that belong to people.”
The ordinance is scheduled to be voted on July 22 by the full council.


Corrections and clarifications

Publishing information quickly and accurately is a central part of the Chicago Tribune ’ s news responsibility and a value @ @ @ @ @ .
Our editorial code of principles governs professional behavior and journalism standards .
Everyone in @ @ @ @ @ live up to this code of conduct .
Download the file .

· A story Tuesday about suburban police reforms incorrectly stated the year in which Laquan McDonald was shot and killed. It was 2014.
· A Weather page graphic on Sunday about derecho damage on July 4, 1969, had a typo in referring to 100 boats that capsized on Lake Erie.
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The Tribune regrets the errors.
Publishing information quickly and accurately is a central part of the Chicago Tribune’s news responsibility and a value shared in all our publications. Our editorial code of principles governs professional behavior and journalism standards. Everyone in our newsroom must agree to live up to this code of conduct. Download the file.
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To report an error, fill out this form.


To our readers

The Chicago Tribune has determined that a Commentary piece by Gerald D. Skoning published in the Sept. 16 , 2016 @ @ @ @ @ passages that were identical to passages in a piece by Amin Aalipour published Jan. 28 @ @ @ @ @ San Diego Union-Tribune .
When we contacted Skoning , he said he did not recall @ @ @ @ @ Union-Tribune and believed his piece “ was all original ” content .

The Chicago Tribune has determined that a Commentary piece by Gerald D. Skoning published in the Sept. 16, 2016, newspaper edition contained several passages that were identical to passages in a piece by Amin Aalipour published Jan. 28, 2016, in the San Diego Union-Tribune. When we contacted Skoning, he said he did not recall seeing the op-ed in the Union-Tribune and believed his piece “was all original” content.
Skoning’s op-ed, headlined “Debates should be televised audience-free,” has been removed from the Chicago Tribune website and archives. The Chicago Tribune apologizes to Aalipour and to our readers.


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Fight over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated-rate income tax plan intensifies in Illinois

“ There will be resources , but again the important thing is we don ’ t need to match the @ @ @ @ @ only have to go ahead and be competitive , ” he said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ spend dollar-for-dollar because this is frankly an unpopular idea once voters figure out what ’ @ @ @ @ @ ...
If the proponents were certain that they had this in the bag , would @ @ @ @ @ 51 million check ?
I don ’ t think so .
”

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks in downtown Chicago on March 20, 2020. The fight over Pritzker’s signature policy initiative, moving Illinois to a graduated-rate income tax, is intensifying with about four months to go before voters decide the issue. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Springfield — The fight over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature policy initiative, moving Illinois to a graduated-rate income tax, is intensifying with about four months to go before voters decide the issue.
A coalition of Illinois organizations that represent businesses launched an effort Tuesday to beat back the proposal, a move that follows Pritzker’s recent $51.5 million contribution to the ballot initiative committee that’s backing a shift from a flat state income tax to one that would impose higher rates on the highest earners.
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In a news conference held via Zoom on Tuesday, Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Todd Maisch wouldn’t say what the coalition is prepared to spend in its campaign against the proposed constitutional change.
“There will be resources, but again the important thing is we don’t need to match the proponents’ spending. We only have to go ahead and be competitive,” he said. “We don’t need to spend dollar-for-dollar because this is frankly an unpopular idea once voters figure out what’s really going on. ... If the proponents were certain that they had this in the bag, would they have written a $51 million check? I don’t think so.”
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[ COVID-19 pandemic’s economic fallout adds emotional element to battle over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated income tax plan ]
Also Tuesday, Vote Yes for Fairness, a pro-graduated income tax committee that’s helmed by Quentin Fulks, Pritzker’s former deputy campaign manager, launched a series of digital ads that call the state’s current flat-rate tax structure “outdated and fundamentally unfair.”
In one of the ads, the group contends it’s “not fair to force our essential workers to pay the same tax rate as millionaires and billionaires.”
Fulks in a statement Tuesday called the news conference by Maisch and others “the height of hypocrisy, put on by a group masquerading as a grassroots organization whose sole purpose is to protect the millionaires and billionaires who have benefited from Illinois’ unfair tax system for far too long.”
Opponents argue that Illinois taxpayers are already severely overburdened, and that financial fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has compounded the strain.
[ Illinois income tax calculator: How would Gov. J.B. Pritzker's proposed graduated income tax affect you? ]
Fulks countered in his statement that it’s “despicable that they’re trying to capitalize on the coronavirus pandemic to protect the wealthiest Illinoisans, while so many families are struggling to make ends meet.”
Fundraising reported by opponents of the plan has been paltry so far, especially compared with the personal bankroll Pritzker is putting behind his initiative. His $51.5 million contribution followed $5 million he threw in last year.
According to a filing with the State Board of Elections, the group Vote No on the Progressive Tax received a $1,000 contribution during the second quarter. Another opposition group called Vote No on the Blank Check Amendment, led by former Illinois Manufacturers’ Association president and CEO Greg Baise, hasn’t yet reported any contributions.
Reports are due July 15 for the second quarter, which ended June 30, though contributions of $1,000 or more are required to be reported on an ongoing basis.
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Todd Maisch, president of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, seen here in 2018, is working with a coalition of Illinois organizations that represent businesses opposed to a graduated-rate income tax. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
In order for the constitutional change to take effect, 60% of those who vote on the ballot question in the November election, or a majority of those who vote overall, would need to approve it. If voters approve the change, it would take effect Jan. 1.
The Illinois General Assembly approved new tax rates last year. Rates would stay the same or decrease for earners who make $250,000 annually or less, while rates would increase for higher earners — the highest-earning 3% of taxpayers in the state. Illinois currently has a 4.95% personal flat-rate income tax.
One of the primary arguments opponents make against the constitutional change is that it opens a door for lawmakers to tweak the rate structure to raise the rates on a larger swath of earners, playing to mistrust of state government’s use of taxpayer dollars.
“Make no mistake, this isn’t about creating more equitable terms, it’s about raising taxes to fund Springfield’s out-of-control spending addiction,” Cindy Neal, the Illinois Leadership Council chair for the National Federation of Independent Business, said at Tuesday’s news conference.
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The battle has long been expected to grow contentious as Election Day approaches, but the coronavirus pandemic has increased the fervor. Opponents argue that with the far-reaching financial fallout created by the pandemic, individuals and businesses are already hurting, and it’s not the time for a significant change to the state’s tax structure.
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The graduated tax is the cornerstone of Pritzker’s plan to stabilize the state’s precarious finances, and the state’s fiscal picture has grown more unstable amid declining revenues caused by the pandemic.
Pritzker has used the pandemic’s sobering effects on the state’s finances to reinforce his argument for the graduated income tax and the revenue it’s expected to bring, saying at a coronavirus news briefing this spring that “we may need it now more than ever.”
This week, the state Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability issued a report that said the state’s base general revenues for the budget year that ended June 30 came in $1.135 billion lower than the prior year.
Despite revenues performing “quite well” for the first three quarters of the state’s last fiscal year, “that all changed in the final quarter as economic and subsequent revenue impacts related to COVID-19 abruptly manifested.”
jmunks@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Chicago police take man into custody after 2-year-old boy dies following beating

The beating , which police characterized as a domestic attack , occurred in the 4200 block of South Calumet Avenue @ @ @ @ @ boy was taken to Comer Children ’ s Hospital , where he was pronounced dead @ @ @ @ @ media notification .

A man beat a 2-year-old boy who later died after he was brought to a hospital from the Bronzeville neighborhood Tuesday afternoon, according to police.
The beating, which police characterized as a domestic attack, occurred in the 4200 block of South Calumet Avenue about 12:10 p.m.
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No charges have been announced as of Wednesday afternoon.
The boy, identified as Antwun Gayden, was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:41 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
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A Wednesday autopsy determined Antwun died of multiple injuries from child abuse, the medical examiner’s office said. His death was ruled a homicide.
The man, who police said has mental illness, hit the child in the face multiple times with his fists, according to police. Officers took the man into custody at the scene.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was investigating the situation, said chief of staff Jassen Strokosch. Strokosch said DCFS had no prior contact with the family.
Detectives were conducting a death investigation, according to police.


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Charles Compton, Civil Air Patrol pilot during World War II and ad salesman, dies

While known for his charismatic , whimsical storytelling about his wartime experiences , Compton “ was much more interested in @ @ @ @ @ than what he did a long time ago , ” said Major David Gillingham , @ @ @ @ @ Compton Composite Squadron , who provided the details on Compton ’ s war experiences .

Charles Compton was part of the country’s early aerial warfare history as one of the first volunteer pilots with the Civil Air Patrol during World War II.
For his service, Compton and the other Civil Air Patrol volunteers during the war were awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.
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Charles Compton (Taken by Westminster Place in Evanston, IL)
“I think he was a little overwhelmed that day,” said Bob Dempsey, commander of the Civil Air Patrol Illinois Wing. “He’s a very humble man, not that he doesn’t enjoy telling a story, but he certainly tells it in a humble way.”
Compton was 103 when he died of natural causes June 16 at his home in Westminster Place in Evanston, said his daughter Ann Compton.
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Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Compton went to the University of Chicago Lab Schools and Lake Forest Academy. At Dartmouth College, he started a small flying club and earned his pilot’s license at age 21. After getting a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth he attended University of Chicago Business School, his daughter said.
In 1941, Charles Compton joined the first coastal patrol base of the Civil Air Patrol, a group of volunteer pilots whose missions included patrolling U.S. coasts providing surveillance and protection to military and supply ships.
Based in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Compton flew his bomb-strapped plane scanning the waters for German U-boats that came within shore sight.
Dempsey said he met Compton in 2010 when the Palwaukee squadron held an awards ceremony at Westminster Place. Compton became actively involved mentoring young cadets within the Illinois Wing, Dempsey said.
Compton “just beamed when he was presenting these cadets with their promotions,” Dempsey said. Every year, cadets would visit Compton on his birthday. On his 101st birthday, the Illinois Wing named a composite squadron after Charles Compton.
“We had this unwritten rule with him, he said ‘Whenever you visit, please have two things with you: cadets and cake,‘ ” Dempsey said.
As the war went on, Compton tried to join the Army Air Forces, but was deemed medically unfit because he had a kidney removed when he was 16.
Compton remained an avid pilot, taking his kids for rides in his private plane and commanding his sons’ Civil Air Patrol squadron in the 1960s. Sometime in the 1940s he flew his personal plane to help rescue two boys stranded in Lake Michigan, his daughter said.
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While known for his charismatic, whimsical storytelling about his wartime experiences, Compton “was much more interested in what people are doing now than what he did a long time ago,” said Major David Gillingham, commander of the Colonel Charles Compton Composite Squadron, who provided the details on Compton’s war experiences.
Compton, who worked in advertising sales for CBS, was always interested in how new technology worked and the impact it had on people, his daughter. This curiosity fueled his love for aviation and his career, she said.
“Talk about flying being new in the 1930s, television was brand new in the 1950s,” Ann Compton said. “It was a time when flying and then broadcasting were big movements in the United States, and dad found them absolutely fascinating.”
Erik Lechleitner, cadet commander of the Compton squadron, said Compton had a way of putting timid new cadets at ease. Lechleitner said Compton liked to chat about the future of aviation, especially drone technology.
“It’s just incredible, having conversations with this 101-, 102-, 103-year-old man who keeps up with the most recent technological advancements in aviation,” Lechleitner said.
Compton and his family moved to Glencoe, in the 1950s, and he remained there until moving into the retirement home. “To our astonishment, he called one day and said ‘I was just elected president of the Glencoe Rotary Club,’ ” Ann Compton said. “I said ‘Dad, you’re 90!’ and he said ‘Well, yeah!’ ”
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Compton “had an impact wherever he went and it was always for good — country, family, community, Civil Air Patrol — to his last days,” Gillingham said. “He left nothing but friends in his wake, and that’s about the finest obituary I think anybody could have.”
Compton’s wife, Barbara, preceded him in death.
Survivors also include another daughter, Susan; two sons, Arthur and Michael; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
chao@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Kenosha man charged with child porn, threatening woman from Gurnee area

The girl stopped communicating with the person after several months , but in 2019 , received an unsolicited message from @ @ @ @ @ the release .
He threatened her , telling her if she didn ’ t send @ @ @ @ @ , he would send the nude photos he already possessed of her to her family @ @ @

A 56-year-old Kenosha man faces stalking and child pornography charges after authorities say he pretended to be a 16-year-old boy to convince an underage girl to give him nude photos and then threatened to send the photos to her family.
The investigation began in September 2019 when the woman, a resident of unincorporated Gurnee, reported to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office that she was being harassed and stalked online and that nude photos of her were sent to her friends and family, according to the news release.
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Investigators found that in 2016, when the woman was a minor, she met someone online who claimed to be a 16-year-old boy, according to the release.
The two communicated for several months, according to the release. The girl felt she was in a “quasi-relationship with the ’16-year-old boy,‘” and agreed to send nude photos and videos of herself.
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Howard M. Hickey, 56, of the 8500 block of 64th Street, Kenosha, Wis (Kenosha County Jail) (Kenosha County Jail / HANDOUT)
The girl stopped communicating with the person after several months, but in 2019, received an unsolicited message from the person, according to the release. He threatened her, telling her if she didn’t send additional nude photos and videos, he would send the nude photos he already possessed of her to her family and friends.
The woman refused and the person then began disseminating nude images of her to her family and friends, according to the release.
Investigators with the Lake County Sheriff’s Cybercrimes Unit identified the person threatening her as Howard M. Hickey, 56, of the 8500 block of 64th Street, Kenosha, Wis, according to the release.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, working with Kenosha Police Department, obtained a search warrant for Hickey’s home Wednesday and the two entities executed the warrant the following day, according to the release. Authorities say Hickey attempted to destroy an electronic device during the search.
Hickey was charged in Kenosha County with three counts of possession of child pornography, three counts of distribution of child pornography, felony stalking and obstructing an officer, according to the release.
Hickey was initially held at the Kenosha County Jail and was released on bail after posting $20,000.


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--University Park man sentenced following 2018 Gary robbery that led to shooting of federal agent

“ Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to bring criminals to justice .
Their work @ @ @ @ @ we are grateful for it .
A law enforcement officer was shot and multiple lives @ @ @ @ @ actions that won ’ t be tolerated and will be aggressively prosecuted , ” said @ @ @ @ @ the statement .

A University Park, Illinois, man was sentenced Tuesday to nearly 13 years in prison following a June 2018 robbery that led to a federal agent being shot.
Bernard Anthony Graham, 27, previously pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer and for discharging a firearm during crime of violence, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Hammond. He was sentenced Tuesday to 153 months in prison.
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“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to bring criminals to justice. Their work is extraordinarily dangerous, and we are grateful for it. A law enforcement officer was shot and multiple lives were affected by reckless criminal actions that won’t be tolerated and will be aggressively prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch in the statement.
On June 7, 2018, Graham, Blake King and Raymon Truitt pretended to sell guns to customers in Gary, but then planned to rob the customers, according to the release.
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Graham’s role in the robbery, according to the release, was to provide security as Truitt negotiated with customers and King presented them with a bag supposedly filled with guns, but actually held pots and pans, according to the release.
During the transactions, Truitt used a gun to rob the customers – who were in fact Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents – of $1,550, according to the release.
Truitt and Graham both shot at the agents, according to the release, and one agent was shot.
“The sentence imposed today reflects the seriousness of this crime while also providing closure for the law enforcement community,” commented ATF Special Agent Kristen deTineo. “Each and every day, law enforcement risks their safety while protecting the communities they serve, and we thank the United States Attorney’s office for their continued partnership in the fight against violent criminals.”
King was sentenced in December 2019 to 10 years in prison and Truitt is dead, according to the release.


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Naperville man facing 14 counts of child porn possession and distribution

Keith C. Richey , Naperville , has been charged with seven felony counts of possession of child pornography and seven @ @ @ @ @ child pornography .

Keith C. Richey, Naperville, has been charged with seven felony counts of possession of child pornography and seven felony counts of distribution of child pornography. (Naperville Police Department / HANDOUT)
A Naperville man charged with possession and distribution of child porn turned himself in to police Monday after a warrant for his arrest was issued.
Keith C. Richey, 46, of the 1500 block of Aztec Circle, faces seven felony counts of possession of child pornography and seven felony counts of distribution of child pornography.
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The Naperville Police High Technology Crimes Unit investigated the case for several months before the charges were filed, a police department news release said.
Richey was released from the DuPage County jail Tuesday after posting 10% of his $250,000 bail.
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Anyone with additional information on the case is asked to contact the police department’s Investigations Unit at 630-420-6666.
subaker@tribpub.com


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Family turns to volunteers, technology as they continue search for Valparaiso man suffering from dem

Family turns to volunteers, technology as they continue search for Valparaiso man suffering from dementia, missing since June 30

When Rod didn ’ t return as expected , Debbie started calling him and driving around the neighborhood .
He @ @ @ @ @ say he was in a cornfield by U.S. 30 .
Debbie tried unsuccessfully to get @ @ @ @ @ phone and asked if he could see a nearby bank but he said no and @ @ @ @ @ minutes later , after Debbie called her son , Micah , and his wife , @ @ @ @ @ to say he was still in a cornfield .

The Moore household in Valparaiso’s Heritage Valley subdivision has become a command center.
A map of the city is by the front door, colored with different markers to represent where volunteers have gone door to door passing out flyers, searched on foot, left flyers in rural areas and where a hi-tech drone has flown overhead.
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Rod Moore - Original Credit: Post-Tribune (Provided by Moore family / HANDOUT)
Sticky notes below the map mark that day’s territory for volunteers, often upwards of 25, who head out with a single purpose: to find Roderick “Rod” Moore.
Moore, 75, who was diagnosed almost three years ago with dementia, left his home around 7:40 p.m. June 30 to go on a walk around his neighborhood and never returned. His wife, Debbie, said the “Find My iPhone” function on his phone wasn’t working.
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Micah, on left, and Kelsey Moore, son and daughter-in-law of missing Valparaiso resident Rod Moore, look over a map of already-searched areas on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)
When Rod didn’t return as expected, Debbie started calling him and driving around the neighborhood. He answered at 8:45 p.m. to say he was in a cornfield by U.S. 30. Debbie tried unsuccessfully to get him to stay on the phone and asked if he could see a nearby bank but he said no and hung up. A few minutes later, after Debbie called her son, Micah, and his wife, Kelsey, Rod answered again to say he was still in a cornfield.
Debbie hasn’t spoken to Rod since then. Family members, who contacted police immediately after Rod reported he was in a cornfield, said his cellphone battery likely died by the morning of July 1 and calls to him since the night he disappeared have gone directly to voicemail. His bank has reported the debit card in his wallet has gone unused.
Kelsey Moore, daughter-in-law of missing Valparaiso resident Rod Moore, points out the likely path the missing man took on a map as family gathers to coordinate search efforts on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)
Police from multiple agencies arrived to search the night Rod disappeared, bringing K-9s, drones and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department helicopter. The family, through the Facebook page “Bring Rod Home Safely,” has reached out to more people than they can count, people who have shown up to help look for Rod, pass out flyers or provide other support.
“It just gives you hope,” Debbie said Tuesday, one week after Rod’s disappearance.
She and Rod are just shy of their 42nd wedding anniversary. They met at Valparaiso University when she was working in public relations and he was an athletic trainer. Rod went on to serve as head trainer, retiring in the fall of 2016 after 49 years.
Westville Correctional facility search K9 Delilah sits near a paper bag containing missing Valparaiso resident Rod Moore's shirt during search efforts on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)
Rod hadn’t gone on a neighborhood walk since the fall, she said, and he’s usually gone half an hour or an hour. “He’s a chatter,” she said, adding that other than a trip to the dentist, that day had been a normal one for her husband.
An early tip suggested Rod had been spotted near Dish restaurant on Valparaiso’s north side but it wasn’t him.
“Any tip we get we check out,” said Detective Cmdr. Eric Jones with the Porter County Sheriff’s Department, adding deputies were out Tuesday with search and rescue. “We’re all working the same area.”
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Debbie Moore, wife of missing Valparaiso resident Rod Moore, speaks about the last known whereabouts of her husband as family members coordinate search efforts on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, in her Valparaiso home. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)
Police received a tip Monday that didn’t pan out, he said, adding Project Lifesaver, offered by Porter County Triad, a partnership between law enforcement, the community and agencies that offer services to seniors, provides tracking bracelets that can help locate people who wander off.
While police believe there was a few hours delay between when Zachariah “Wayne” Lee 86, wandered from his Porter Township home in the early hours of a November morning and when his family discovered Lee, who has Alzheimer’s disease, was gone, Jones said the contact with Moore’s family and the effort to find him began much sooner. Lee has yet to be found.
“This one they were out searching immediately. The problem with the area over there is there are 30 acres of marsh,” Jones said of the area where Moore went missing. “Any help would be appreciated. It’s just tough. It’s a big county.”
Late Tuesday morning, Sgt. Bret Romeo with Westville Correctional Center brought his bloodhound, Delilah, to help search for Rod. Bloodhounds can track a scent for 300 hours.
Kelsey Moore, daughter-in-law of missing Valparaiso resident Rod Moore, looks over a timeline of Rod's last known whereabouts as family gathers to coordinate search efforts on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)
Romeo presented Delilah with a paper grocery sack that had one of Rod’s shirts in it.
“Find him. Find that man. Where’s he at?” Romeo said before he and the dog bounded off across the street and between two homes.
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Kelsey, Rod’s daughter-in-law, has created a timeline that’s on the dining room wall and notes every call to Rod and other details from the night he disappeared. The family has asked neighbors and businesses to check surveillance and doorbell cameras for clues and found two Monday night. A surveillance camera captured Rod around 7:51 p.m. June 30 behind Paul Sur Buick heading east.
The clear picture captured Rod in a darker gray or black polo, khaki shorts, a light colored ball cap, and white tennis shoes and socks, confirming for the family the description they provided to police and the public.
A second shot, about six minutes later, surfaced on surveillance video from a business on Southpoint Circle, southeast of the car dealership. They are the last known pictures pinpointing Rod’s location.
“It felt like a big win,” Kelsey said. “It was a little bit of renewed hope.”
Kelsey has marked Rod’s suspected walking path on a map and updated the timeline with a notation about Rod’s appearance behind Paul Sur.
The timeline stops at 9:02 p.m. that night with “Kelsey and Micah leave to drive.” Kelsey said she’d like to be able to add more.
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Rod is 6 feet tall and weighs 180 pounds with gray hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Porter County Sheriff’s Department at 219-477-3000 or 911.
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Where does Illinois stand on the reopening plan? Here are the charts

With each of the state ’ s four regions in Phase 3 of Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s Restore @ @ @ @ @ starts on moving on to Phase 4 , where more businesses and activities are allowed @ @ @ @ @ Illinois — from restaurants and salons to open space to non-COVID-19 procedures at the hospital @ @ @ @ @ depends on a host of metrics laid out by Pritzker .

Chad Yoder, Nausheen Husain, Jennifer Smith Richards, Jonathon Berlin

With each of the state’s four regions in Phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan, the clock starts on moving on to Phase 4, where more businesses and activities are allowed. The plan to reopen Illinois — from restaurants and salons to open space to non-COVID-19 procedures at the hospital to concerts and festivals — depends on a host of metrics laid out by Pritzker.
The metrics focus on a rolling average of positive coronavirus cases and hospitalizations to keep track of the direction of the outbreak as well as availability of hospital beds and ventilators that would be needed to handle a possible surge. There are also benchmarks for testing and tracing positive tests.
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
A key element of the plan is that a region can move both forward and backward, where more parts of society can open and shut depending on the seriousness of the outbreak.
Here is a breakdown of where each region stands.


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood

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

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


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Chicago students earn stipends through online summer program

To come up with the best pizzas in America , The Daily Meal researched the newest and highly rated places @ @ @ @ @ of great pizzas from across the country — nearly 1,000 pizzas in total were considered @ @ @ @ @ then called upon a geographically diverse list of pizza panelists — chefs , restaurant critics @ @ @ @ @ other pizza authorities — to take the survey .
The states with the most entrants @ @ @ @ @ York ( 28 ) , Illinois ( 9 ) , California ( 7 ) , @ @ @ @ @ ( 6 ) and New Jersey ( 6 ) , but Texas , Michigan and @ @ @ @ @ as well .

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chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Illinois US Sen. Tammy Duckworth fires back at Fox News host Tucker Carlson after he questions her p

Illinois US Sen. Tammy Duckworth fires back at Fox News host Tucker Carlson after he questions her patriotism

Carlson showed only a short clip from her CNN interview and said , “ A national dialogue ?
Please .
@ @ @ @ @ for a colloquy .
What they want is a soliloquy .
We speak , you @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s long been considered out of bounds to question a person ’ s @ @ @ @ @ a very strong charge and we try not ever to make it .
But in @ @ @ @ @ this , the conclusion can ’ t be avoided .
These people actually hate America @ @

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth obliges for a selfie with a voter outside Union Station in Chicago following her re-election to the Senate on Nov. 9, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Purple Heart recipient who lost both legs in a combat helicopter crash in Iraq, fired back at Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Twitter after he challenged her and other Democratic leaders’ patriotism and charged that they despise the country.
The volleys started when Carlson, in a nearly 14-minute segment, included Duckworth’s answer on CNN over the weekend when she was asked whether she also supported removing monuments honoring historical figures in U.S. history who were slave owners, such as George Washington.
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In her response, which went on to criticize President Donald Trump’s recent appearance at Mount Rushmore, Duckworth said there should be a national dialogue on the issue at some point. When pressed, Duckworth said, “I think we should listen to everybody.”
On his show Monday night, Carlson noted that Duckworth is among the contenders to be Democrat Joe Biden’s running mate this fall and criticized her call for a national dialogue on the historical monuments issue.
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“You’re not supposed to criticize Tammy Duckworth in any way because she once served in the military,” Carlson said. “Most people just ignore her. But when Duckworth does speak in public, you’re reminded what a deeply silly and unimpressive person she is.”
[ Could Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s remarkable life story help make her Joe Biden’s pick for vice president? ]
Carlson showed only a short clip from her CNN interview and said, “A national dialogue? Please. They’re not looking for a colloquy. What they want is a soliloquy. We speak, you shut up and listen ... it’s long been considered out of bounds to question a person’s patriotism. It’s a very strong charge and we try not ever to make it. But in the face of all of this, the conclusion can’t be avoided. These people actually hate America.”
Duckworth is one of at least 13 women being vetted by Biden’s team as a possible vice presidential candidate.
On Nov. 12, 2004, Duckworth, was in the Army Reserve and co-piloting a Black Hawk helicopter in Iraq when her aircraft was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Then 36, she lost almost all of her right leg and her left leg below the knee and badly injured her right arm. She nearly bled to death.
Does @TuckerCarlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America? — Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) July 7, 2020
Duckworth replied to Carlson’s attack on Monday night by posing a question via Twitter.
“Does @TuckerCarlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America?”
On Tuesday night’s show, Carlson again targeted Duckworth, along with Minnesota U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, calling them “vandals” who hate the United States, The New York Times reported.


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Illinois coronavirus graphs: 7,063 deaths, 148,452 confirmed cases, 1.81 million tests, 4.18% positi

Illinois coronavirus graphs: 7,063 deaths, 148,452 confirmed cases, 1.81 million tests, 4.18% positivity rate for Chicago area

The state also announced 587 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and the results of 26,994 tests .
Whether the @ @ @ @ @ holds isn ’ t clear , but the daily toll of 587 is slightly less @ @ @ @ @ .
Read more on the state ’ s metrics here .

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


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--At least 17 shot, 4 fatally, in less than 12 hours in Chicago

Police responded to a call about shots fired in the 3600 block of West Douglas Boulevard in the Lawndale neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ according to a police media notification .
Officers found three people individuals wounded by gunshots @ @ @ @ @ , who the the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office identified as Martell Thomas @ @ @ @ @ unresponsive with gunshot wounds to the back of the head and in the chest .
@ @ @ @ @ Mount Sinai Hospital , according to police .

At least four people were shot to death across Chicago from Monday night into Tuesday morning, part of a series of attacks that also left 13 people injured, including six wounded in a single attack, according to police.
Three of the overnight shootings left three or more people wounded.
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The shootings come after a string of violent weekends in the city that have left younger children killed and injured. Gun violence in Chicago spiked Memorial Day weekend and has remained high, including a violent Fourth of July weekend during which at least 90 people were shot, 18 of them fatally.
As of the end of the holiday weekend Monday morning, more than 1,800 people had been shot in Chicago, about 500 more than by the same time last year, according to data compiled by the Tribune.
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In the latest shooting overnight, about 5 a.m. Tuesday, a man was discovered with a gunshot wound to the back of the head in the 400 block of East 112th Street in the Far South Side’s Roseland neighborhood, according to police. Officers responded to a call from a witness who heard gunshots and saw someone lying on the ground and found the man fatally wounded, police said.
Police responded to a call about shots fired in the 3600 block of West Douglas Boulevard in the Lawndale neighborhood about 11 p.m. Monday, according to a police media notification. Officers found three people individuals wounded by gunshots, including a 30-year-old man, who the the Cook County medical examiner’s office identified as Martell Thomas, lying on the ground unresponsive with gunshot wounds to the back of the head and in the chest. Thomas was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to police.
A 27-year-old woman suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was in serious condition and a 24-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to his left shoulder and was in good condition after they went to the hospital in a private vehicle, police said.
Two people also were killed Monday night.
Two men were wounded, one fatally, as they drove in the South Shore neighborhood Monday night.
A man identified as Willie Goins, 38, of the 7100 block of South Stewart Avenue, was pronounced dead at 7:13 p.m. Monday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Goins and a 38-year-old man were driving a Chevy Malibu in the 7500 block of South Kingston Avenue around 6:45 p.m. Monday when someone in another vehicle pulled up and started shooting at them.
Both were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, Goins in critical condition and the other man in fair condition after suffering a gunshot wound to the thigh, according to police. No suspects were in custody.
Less than an hour earlier, a 24-year-old man identified by the Cook County medical examiner’s office as Keonte Woods was standing in an alley when someone in a vehicle approached and fired at him, hitting him in the chest, according to a Chicago Police Department media notification. The shooting took place in the 400 block of South Kilpatrick Avenue in the West Garfield Park neighborhood, police said.
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Woods, of the 4700 block of West Van Buren Street, taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:55 p.m. Monday. No suspects are in custody.
In other shootings overnight:


chicagotribune--2020-07-07--Aurora man to get new sentencing hearing for 2009 murder of East Aurora High School soccer player

Reyes became involved in a gang when he was 13 or 14 years old , officials said .
In written @ @ @ @ @ for the crimes and said he takes full responsibility for his actions .
He said @ @ @ @ @ the shooting , older members of the gang had taken advantage of him because he @ @ @ @ @ had low self-esteem and did not know how to refuse them when they asked him @ @ @

An Aurora man will get a third sentencing hearing after it was ruled the original 97-year and 66-year prison terms imposed by Kendall County judges were too long.
Zachary Reyes was 16 years old when he killed East Aurora High School soccer player Jason Ventura, 17, and injured a Montgomery teen in a 2009 shooting in Oswego.
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Reyes, now 26, first faced a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence totaling 97 years after he was tried as an adult and convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder with a firearm in 2012.
Zachary Reyes (Illinois Dept. of Corrections / HANDOUT)
After Reyes appealed the case, arguing his sentence was unconstitutional, the Illinois Supreme Court remanded for a new sentencing hearing in 2016. Judges ordered the circuit court to reconsider the sentence in light of how young Reyes was when he shot the two teens near Douglas Road and Long Beach Road.
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The court ruled the 97-year term was a de facto life sentence and was unconstitutional for a juvenile defendant.
Reyes, who once lived on the 500 block of Webster Street in Aurora, had 31 years shaved off his sentence in 2018. But he recently appealed the sentence again and the Second District Illinois Appellate Court ordered a new sentence in a unanimous ruling last week. The court ruled that the prison term was still too long for a juvenile defendant.
In a 2019 case, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled a de facto life sentence for a juvenile defendant is anything greater than 40 years in prison. Longer sentences can be affirmed if the juvenile is considered to be remorseless and beyond redemption.
In Reyes’ case, Appellate Court Justice Mary Seminara-Schostok wrote the trial court imposed a de facto life sentence despite Reyes’ not showing “irretrievable depravity, permanent incorrigibility, or irreparable corruption beyond the possibility of rehabilitation.”
Reyes became involved in a gang when he was 13 or 14 years old, officials said. In written statements, he expressed remorse for the crimes and said he takes full responsibility for his actions. He said that on the night of the shooting, older members of the gang had taken advantage of him because he wanted to be liked, had low self-esteem and did not know how to refuse them when they asked him to shoot.
Prosecutors in 2012 said Reyes shot at a car he believed was full of rival gang members driving near Douglas and Long Beach roads in Oswego in December 2009. Ventura was hit by multiple gunshots and died at the scene. Another teen was wounded in the shooting.
Police said Reyes was in a car driven by 20-year-old Aurora man Francisco Salazar, who was sentenced to 55 years for his role in the shooting.
Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis said Ventura was not a gang member, but had agreed to give a ride to some other teens who were. The teens in Ventura’s car flashed gang signs at the other car, which instigated the shooting, Weis said.
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Ventura was described in Beacon-News articles as a star soccer player at East Aurora, where he was also involved in the Navy Junior ROTC program and earned good grades.
Reyes third sentencing hearing has not been scheduled yet. He currently resides at Pontiac Correctional Center.
mejones@chicagotribune.com