chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Artist says Englewood mural a ‘time capsule’  of how people fought to save their community ‘during d

Artist says Englewood mural a ‘time capsule’  of how people fought to save their community ‘during dire times’

In a corner of the mural is the phrase “ be your higher self , '' a message that appears @ @ @ @ @ work .
His friend Howard Bailey , a former restaurant owner , teamed up with @ @ @ @ @ turn the phrase into an art movement , inspiring kids to use their creative talents @ @ @ @ @

Artist Rahmaan Statik in front of his mural featuring chef Jose Andres on an exterior wall of the Montessori School of Englewood on May 14, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Since the pandemic closed schools in Chicago, chefs and nonprofit groups have been making sure children still get a warm meal.
Now a South Side artist is honoring their efforts with a mural on the red brick wall of the Montessori School of Englewood, which has served as a site for free food pickup for families, nearly 6,000 meals and counting. The mural spotlights Jose Andres, a chef at World Central Kitchen that has helped put together the meals.
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“It’s almost like a time capsule for 2020,” said artist Rahmaan Statik. “This is how people reacted. People actually stood up to actually fight for the survival of their community right there during dire times.”
In a corner of the mural is the phrase “be your higher self,'' a message that appears often in Statik’s work. His friend Howard Bailey, a former restaurant owner, teamed up with Statik a year ago to turn the phrase into an art movement, inspiring kids to use their creative talents to improve their community.
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A mural featuring chef Jose Andres on the wall of the Montessori School of Englewood painted by Rahmaan Statik. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
While their primary focus is promoting the arts, Bailey said he decided to use his culinary background to provide meals to people on the South Side. He began raising money and was contacted by the Montessori school.
“About a week into it, I got a call from the president of the Montessori school (who) said that they had 32 transitional homeless families that he needed to take care of,” Bailey said.
Bailey contacted the Trotter Project — named after famed Chicago chef Charlie Trotter — and World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit founded by chef Jose Andres to provide meals to disaster-stricken areas. “It’s been a beautiful ecosystem of people working together to make sure that other people are fed,” Bailey said.
Artists have been painting murals in the city’s medical district to honor doctors and nurses. So Bailey and Statik decided they wanted to do something to celebrate the workers providing meals to communities in need.
Statik’s mural, on the side of the school, features Andres holding a bundle of produce. Behind him are people assembling meals like the ones families pick up each day. Above is the signature phrase: “Be your higher self.”
“Art is any form of creativity and building,” Statik said. “I’m a painter, so that’s my angle of doing art, but chef Andres is also a culinary artist. He uses his culinary arts skills to better society.”
ssherry@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Medical examiner: Boy, 12, from Southwest Side is youngest COVID-19 victim in Cook County

“ While he may have been taken from us at such a young age , we will never forget the @ @ @ @ @ he valued so much , ” the family said in a statement on the page @ @ @ @ @ surrounded by love and happiness , and we know he ’ s made an impact @ @ @ @ @ met .
”

Mourners gather around the casket of 12-year-old Ernesto Guzman at Resurrection Cemetery on May 20, 2020, in Justice. Ernesto was the youngest person to die of COVID-19 in Cook County. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Standing 6 feet apart and wearing face masks, Ernesto Guzman’s teachers bid him farewell with white roses Wednesday as his family drove past his elementary school on their way to the cemetery.
Ernesto is the youngest person in Cook County to die from COVID-19. He was 12.
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"Our hearts remain broken for Ernesto and his family. Acero Marquez teachers, scholars, staff and families continue to mourn with Ernesto’s family. We are thankful for the opportunity to be a part of Ernesto’s remembrance. His spirit fills us with love and only fuels our commitment to service. He is our light now,” an Acero Marquez Elementary School statement said.
Nearly 20 teachers and school staff members waited for the procession that briefly stopped in front of the school. As part of a symbolic goodbye, a funeral home worker placed a cross with white flowers by the sidewalk.
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Teachers and staff of Acero Marquez Elementary School watch as the funeral procession for student Ernesto Guzman drives past the school on May 20, 2020, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
“My little boy left,” said his mother, Rosa Lara, amid tears days after his death.
Ernesto was 6 years old when he underwent his first surgery for a rare disorder that was steadily damaging the nerves in his arms and legs.
Doctors told the family there was no cure, and the young boy would endure at least six more surgeries as he fought the debilitating disease.
“He was very strong and kept positive,” said his uncle and godfather, Sergio Lara. Ernesto hoped to get a job and buy a truck for his father, maybe make enough money so his mother could stop working.
In the last few weeks, Ernesto’s mother began having headaches and a fever, and immediately sought out a testing site for COVID-19. She tested positive. Ernesto and others in her family were tested, too, and the results came back positive for the boy, his older brother and two nephews.
Ernesto worried everyone the most. He had other health problems, including asthma, and struggled to leave his room at times.
Nearly two weeks after he was tested, Ernesto died from pneumonia caused by the coronavirus. His other conditions were listed as contributing to his death.
The boy’s mother is “absolutely heartbroken, we are trying to stay strong for her,” Sergio Lara said.
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Ernesto Guzman. (Family photo)
Ernesto was the baby of the family and a “soul that kept our family close-knitted,” Lara said. “When we had family gatherings, everyone would go to his room to see him, especially the kids, because they knew he couldn’t play with them.”
They would often drop off video games or his favorite food. He loved pizza, cheese sticks and burritos with green salsa his mother made.
More than anything, Lara said, Ernesto loved his nieces and nephews. Many of the photos shared by Lara show the boy carrying them as babies.
The last time Lara saw his godson was on April 10, when he stopped by the home. “He loved his family and always wanted us to be together.”
Ernesto Guzman, shown during a previous hospital stay. (Family photo)
Luis Vega remembered his younger brother as “a bright young man with many hopes and aspirations. He was very caring and thoughtful of others, especially his family. He had many goals to accomplish in life. His main priorities were assisting his parents.”
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Ernesto’s faith seemed to grow stronger as his disease progressed, according to Lara, who was Ernesto’s sponsor for First Communion last year. “He had an image of our Divino Nino (Divine Child Jesus) in his room.”
On a Facebook post, Tania Vega shared a collage of family photos to commemorate her little brother. “Your nephews will know the amazing person you were,” she wrote. “I promise you … please watch over us Ernie ... I know you aren’t going to be suffering no more and you’re somewhere up there with grandpa now.”
Teachers and staff at Acero Marquez Elementary School place white flowers on a chalk memorial in honor of their student 12-year-old Ernesto Guzman on May 20, 2020, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Before May 14 the youngest COVID-19 victim in Cook County was a 19-year-old man from south suburban Riverdale, according to the medical examiner’s office. In March, public health officials said a 9-month-old boy from Chicago died after testing positive for COVID-19. But samples are still being tested to confirm the cause, the office said.
In the hours after Ernesto died, Lara created a GoFundMe page to help the family with funeral expenses. He asked for $5,000. Within 24 hours, it had raised more than $24,500.
“Ernesto was such a sweetheart and so funny,” friends of the family posted. “He was a light wherever he went.”
Lara said the family was “extremely” grateful for the kind words and the support. “It is a testament of the impact that Ernie had in this world,” Lara said. “But unfortunately, not even a million dollars will get him back to us.”
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larodriguez@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood

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

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


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Tracking Illinois coronavirus: 3,928 deaths, 87,937 confirmed cases, 512,037 tests, 25% ICU beds and

Tracking Illinois coronavirus: 3,928 deaths, 87,937 confirmed cases, 512,037 tests, 25% ICU beds and 67% ventilators open

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

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


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--‘Live from the Library.’ The Obamas read a story as part of a daily series as city’s 81 branches rem

‘Live from the Library.’ The Obamas read a story as part of a daily series as city’s 81 branches remain closed

Michelle Obama reflected on her time as a kid in Chicago 's libraries .
`` I remember my first trip @ @ @ @ @ important I felt , '' she said .
`` It was around age 4 .
@ @ @ @ @ key that unlocked a world of knowledge and experiences .
”

Everyone could use a little story time.
The Chicago Public Library has launched “Live From the Library,” a daily reading presented by librarians as well as some of the city’s famous residents like Oprah Winfrey, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama.
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On Thursday, the Obamas read “The Word Collector” by Peter H. Reynolds. “We chose this book because it illustrates the transformative power of words,” the former president said. Then he added, smiling, “I love words.”
Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama appear on Chicago Public Library's "Live From the Library" on the library's Facebook page. (Chicago Public Library)
Michelle Obama reflected on her time as a kid in Chicago's libraries. "I remember my first trip to the library and how important I felt," she said. "It was around age 4. My library card was a key that unlocked a world of knowledge and experiences.”
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When the stay-at-home order went into effect in March, the Chicago Public Library closed all 81 of its branches for the first time in 150 years. The libraries were one of the last public spaces to remain open.
The city hopes this online series will help families experience some of the benefits of the libraries without physically being there.
“Our libraries are more than just buildings to check out books, they’re our community meeting places, early education and job training centers, and where our young people are empowered to explore their passions and pursue their dreams,” Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot said in a statement.
The program can be seen live every weekday at 10 a.m. on CPL’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Past programs can also be viewed there.


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Watch live: Gov. J.B. Pritzker and health officials provide an update on the coronavirus in Illinois

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

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chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Ex-Northwestern professor charged in sex killing again cites immunology expertise in bid to leave ja

Ex-Northwestern professor charged in sex killing again cites immunology expertise in bid to leave jail and fight COVID-19

But attorneys argued in a public video hearing that Lathem could be safely released with the supervision of a professional @ @ @ @ @ name was not given in court .
The man would be tasked with checking on @ @ @ @ @ the court his compliance with the conditions of his release , defense attorneys said .
@ @ @ @ @ arrangements are rare in state court .

FILE - In this Aug. 19, 2017, file photo, Wyndham Lathem arrives at a police station as he is escorted by Chicago police in Chicago. Lathem, a former Northwestern University professor charged in the murder of his boyfriend, was rebuffed by a judge after asking to be released from a Chicago jail so his research skills can be used to battle COVID-19, The Chicago Sun-Times, citing court records Monday, April 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Jim Young, Pool, File) (Jim Young/AP)
The former Northwestern University professor accused of fatally stabbing his boyfriend to fulfill an elaborate sexual fantasy should be released pending trial so he can help in the battle against COVID-19, his attorneys again argued in court Thursday.
“I’m guessing there’s no other litigants that have proposed this to the court, that their client can possibly aid in a very significant matter,” defense attorney Barry Sheppard said. “This man is a leading immunologist and someone who knows lung infections better than anyone else.”
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Cook County Circuit Judge Charles Burns deferred his decision on whether to release Wyndham Lathem, saying he wanted to give prosecutors more time to write their legal arguments and possibly vet the “third-party custodian" whom defense attorneys suggested could monitor Lathem if he is released.
It was the second attempt at release by the attorneys defending Lathem against some of the strangest murder charges in recent Chicago history. Their first effort was denied last month, records show.
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Recent documents arguing for his release were kept under seal. Burns has clamped down on public information in the case, issuing a “gag order” on attorneys and routinely conducting hearings behind closed doors. Even the written guilty plea for Lathem’s co-defendant, Andrew Warren, was partially redacted after the plea last summer.
But attorneys argued in a public video hearing that Lathem could be safely released with the supervision of a professional acquaintance, a writer whose name was not given in court. The man would be tasked with checking on Lathem daily and reporting to the court his compliance with the conditions of his release, defense attorneys said. Such “third-party custodian” arrangements are rare in state court.
Lathem, a microbiologist and immunologist who previously studied the plague, is being held without bond at Cook County Jail. Prosecutors said Thursday they believe he is not eligible for release on bond.
The salacious details of his case made international headlines. Trenton Cornell-Duranleau, 26, was stabbed some 70 times in Lathem’s posh high-rise apartment in the Near North neighborhood in July 2017.
Prosecutors have said that Warren, from England, and Lathem, then an associate professor of microbiology at Northwestern, killed him to fulfill a sexual fantasy that they had plotted online for months beforehand.
As part of a plea deal, Warren agreed to testify against Lathem in return for a recommendation from prosecutors that he be sentenced to 45 years in prison. Prosecutors also said they would not object to his eventual repatriation to England, where he could serve a sharply reduced sentence.
Prosecutors have alleged that Lathem lured his boyfriend to his high-rise apartment in Chicago’s Near North neighborhood. Early on the morning of July 27, 2017, Warren stood in the doorway to the bedroom with his cellphone in hand as Lathem repeatedly stabbed Cornell-Duranleau as he slept, according to prosecutors. Lathem had asked Warren to video-record the killing, prosecutors said, but he never did.
As the victim awoke and fought back, Lathem called out for help, so Warren put his hands over the victim’s mouth, hit him in the head with a heavy metal lamp and stabbed him in the chest with so much force that he broke the blade of one of the knives he used, prosecutors alleged.
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As the victim bled to death in the bedroom, Lathem and Warren showered and then tried to clean up the scene, prosecutors said.
The two fled Chicago, setting off an intense nationwide search for more than a week before they were captured without incident in California. Both were ordered held without bail.
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Will college sports and campus life resume in the fall? Not ‘as normal,’ University of Illinois pres

Will college sports and campus life resume in the fall? Not ‘as normal,’ University of Illinois president says

“ We certainly don ’ t want to be in a situation where , because of large assemblies of people @ @ @ @ @ that we then have to manage and go into overdrive to control and tamp down @ @ @ @ @ “ I think it ’ s undoubtedly true that the sports events in the fall @ @ @ @ @ ... but we hope and are planning that they will resume ( at some point @ @ @

University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen suggested Wednesday that another fixture of campus life might have to fall by the wayside in the fall: stadiums packed with fans cheering on the college’s Big Ten teams.
During a virtual town hall meeting with students and community stakeholders, Killeen said that social distancing, which is paramount to slowing the spread of the coronavirus, would be difficult to manage in that setting. For example, Memorial Stadium, where the school’s football team plays in Champaign, seats more than 60,000 people.
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“We certainly don’t want to be in a situation where, because of large assemblies of people, there is an outbreak that we then have to manage and go into overdrive to control and tamp down,” Killeen said. “I think it’s undoubtedly true that the sports events in the fall will not resume as normal ... but we hope and are planning that they will resume (at some point).”
Killeen’s comments come a little more than a week after Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren told the Tribune he was then at least six weeks away from making any key decisions about the return of competition in the conference. The Big Ten is extending a hold on all organized team activities until June 1, and a recently formed task force, which will include feedback from student-athletes, is working to evaluate different scenarios.
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Revenue losses from canceled sporting events could continue to exacerbate the financial fallout at colleges that have already spent hundreds of millions of dollars refunding students for room and board fees and are facing other pandemic-related expenses. A recent estimate reported by USA Today predicted that universities in the Power Five conferences would lose an average of $78 million ― or more than 60% of their operating revenue ― if football is not played.
During the hourlong virtual town hall Wednesday evening, Killeen also forecast other changes that could be in store in the fall. While Killeen has been careful to emphasize that he plans to have all three campuses “open” at the beginning of the new school year in August, it’s not clear what public health officials will allow.
With campuses in Chicago and downstate in Urbana-Champaign and Springfield, the U. of I. system is the state’s largest university, teaching nearly 89,000 graduate and undergraduate students last year.
Killeen said specific details for fall plans will be shared over the next month, as the school continues to invest in increased cleaning of facilities and contact tracing efforts. If students return, there will also be social distancing protocols for dining halls, dorms and campus events.
“What we envision right now is the three campuses opening at their scheduled times but in a modified fashion appropriate to the health issues that are relevant to that time frame,” Killeen said.
Students should probably not expect to take 400-person lecture classes, Killeen said, and instead be prepared for a blended model that combines some online learning with in-person experiences.
Acknowledging concerns about students with compromised immune systems coming back to campus, Killeen said “we are going to provide accommodation the best we can." He added the schools are also looking for space at nearby hotels that can be used to quarantine students who come down with the virus.
Even as Killeen doubled down on his intention to have students on campus this fall, some colleges in other parts of the country are going in a different direction. On Tuesday, California State University, the country’s largest four-year public university system, announced it will offer most of its classes solely online in the fall. And a day later, Harvard Medical School said its fall courses for new medical, dental and graduate students will also be conducted remotely.
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Though President Donald Trump has strongly indicated his preferences for schools of all levels to resume in-person learning in the fall, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, threw cold water on the idea Tuesday when he testified before the U.S. Senate and said sending students back to college campuses when there is no vaccine would be a “bridge too far.”
As changes for U. of I. arise, Killeen might continue to hold more virtual sessions to answer students’ questions.
“He’s done the tele-town hall meetings before and they’ve been well attended, effective ways of communicating with various external and internal audiences,” spokesman Tom Hardy said. “They are especially important communication vehicles during these circumstances with the pandemic and having students, faculty and staff spread out.”
echerney@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Will County Republicans, businesses sue state for coronavirus closure losses

Will County Board member Mike Fricilone , also a Homer Glen Republican , has proposed the resolution , which will @ @ @ @ @ s county board meeting .
The resolution contends that including Will County in the same @ @ @ @ @ which is reporting higher COVID-19 cases than Will County , would “ unjustly cause severe @ @ @ @ @ , residents and businesses without a reasonable basis for the declaration.
” The resolution also @ @ @ @ @ district made up of the five collar counties around Cook County to allow those counties @ @ @ @ @ more fair , equitable and timely manner .
”

A Will County board member, the chair of the county’s Republican Party organization and three business owners have filed a federal lawsuit against Governor J.B. Pritzker and the State of Illinois seeking monetary damages due to the governor's stay-at-home order. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
A Will County board member, the chair of the county’s Republican Party organization and three area business owners have filed a federal lawsuit against Governor J.B. Pritzker and the State of Illinois seeking monetary damages for loss of income they claim was caused by the Governor’s stay-at-home order.
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday on behalf of Will County Board member Steve Balich, R-Homer Glen; George Pearson, chair of the Will County Republican Committee; Samantha Palya, who owns Absolutely Pawfect Pet Styling in Palos Hills; Amanda Hamerman, owner of Color Envy in Bolingbrook; and Mark Judge, owner of Judge Automotive in Oak Forest. It contends that Pritzker, through the stay-at-home order, “seized without compensation the property and businesses and the livelihoods of individuals across the state, forcing indefinite closures and layoffs of thousands of people.”
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“In the wake of a fast-moving disease outbreak, plaintiffs stand on the precipice of economic collapse as a direct result of the actions taken by Governor Pritzker and the State of Illinois in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,” the lawsuit claims.
Specifically, the lawsuit contends that the owners of Color Envy and Absolutely Pawfect Pet Styling have suffered a loss of more than $60,000 and $45,000 respectively as a result of having to shut down their shops in accordance with the state’s stay-at-home order. The lawsuit also notes that the owner of Judge Automotive had to lay off an employee.
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Pawfect Pet Styling reopened May 1 and has been busy with the backlog of customers from the six weeks it was closed. The shop has been busy since its reopening, but Palya anticipates the continued shut down will trickle down to her business as customers who may not be able to return to work forgo her services to free up cash for other necessities.
“If we don’t open up, how are people going to get back to work?,” she asked.
The lawsuit also alleges that both Balich and Pearson have not been able to adequately perform their duties —such as meeting with constituents, passing petitions or fundraising — due to the governor’s order.
Balich and the group’s attorney, Alan Bruggeman, noted the lawsuit does not seek injunctive relief but rather seeks to have a jury set compensation for those affected by the shut down.
“The government is violating our constitutional rights by taking our freedom away,” Balich said. “People who have businesses can’t even conduct business in the way they should.”
Samantha Palya, who owns Absolutely Pawfect Pet Styling in Palos Hills, other business owners and local Republican leaders filed a lawsuit seeking reimbursement for damages caused by the stay-at-home order issued by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker. (Samantha Palya)
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Balich also is among the Will County board members discussing a resolution requesting the state assign Will County to a different region as it relates to the governor’s reopening plan. Currently, Will County is included in the Northeast Region which also includes Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kendall, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Kankakee counties.
Will County Board member Mike Fricilone, also a Homer Glen Republican, has proposed the resolution, which will be discussed at Thursday’s county board meeting. The resolution contends that including Will County in the same region as Cook County, which is reporting higher COVID-19 cases than Will County, would “unjustly cause severe economic injury to the families, residents and businesses without a reasonable basis for the declaration.” The resolution also asks to create a new district made up of the five collar counties around Cook County to allow those counties “to reopen in a more fair, equitable and timely manner.”
Fricilone, also a candidate for the 3rd Congressional District, pointed to Lockport and the impact the stay at home order has had on the “mom and pop” shops spread throughout the village.
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“My mayor in Lockport, his city is going to die,” Fricilone said. Further, he questioned how a boutique shop that may have a handful of customers in the store at the same time is not allowed to open while big box stores or grocery stores can open.
Amid questions from county sheriffs or other municipalities refusing to follow the stay at home orders, Pritzker Thursday urged elected officials to comply and keep their constituents safety at the forefront.
“Do your job. Lead,” Pritzker urged. “Be the person that they elected who is supposed to be protecting your community. Don’t fall prey to the rhetoric that’s out there that says ‘Oh let’s just open up. This virus doesn’t effect anyone like me. You’re wrong.”
Pritzker also suggested the boundaries would not be redrawn, noting they reflect healthcare regions and the availability of healthcare within a region. He also said that, based on current numbers, every region is poised, if current metrics hold, to enter Phase 3 at the month’s end.


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--$2.25 million settlement proposed in Chicago police shooting of unarmed teen with developmental disa

$2.25 million settlement proposed in Chicago police shooting of unarmed teen with developmental disabilities

Aldermen next week will consider paying $ 2.25 million to a black man with developmental disabilities who was shot by @ @ @ @ @ , an incident that prompted a disciplinary panel to suspend the sergeant for six months @ @ @ @ @ whistleblower to allege an attempted Police Department cover-up .

Video shows an off-duty Chicago police sergeant opening fire from his vehicle and shooting and wounding an apparently unarmed teen as he stood on a sidewalk in front of a home on the Far South Side. (Civilian Office of Police Accountability) (Chicago Copa/Handout)
Aldermen next week will consider paying $2.25 million to a black man with developmental disabilities who was shot by an off-duty Chicago police sergeant, an incident that prompted a disciplinary panel to suspend the sergeant for six months without pay and for a whistleblower to allege an attempted Police Department cover-up.
The proposed settlement for Ricardo “Ricky” Hayes comes more than two and a half years after he was shot by Sgt. Khalil Muhammad in the Morgan Park neighborhood.
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It’s the latest in a long line of police misconduct settlements that have proved increasingly costly for the cash-strapped city. Aldermen have recently pushed back against some such agreements, arguing the Law Department should fight lawsuits brought by plaintiffs who don’t deserve the money.
But the Chicago Police Board suspended Muhammad last December after he admitted he unjustifiably used deadly force in shooting Hayes in the early morning hours of Aug. 13, 2017, which likely will short circuit any controversy over this case.
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If the Finance Committee approves the settlement Monday, it will head to the full City Council for a vote Wednesday.
An investigative report filed by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which investigates police shootings, found Muhammad was nearing his home in Morgan Park when he said he saw a suspicious black male by his next-door neighbor’s car shortly after 5 a.m.
Muhammad was dressed in civilian clothes, having just finished his late-night patrol shift. He told investigators he identified himself as a police officer and asked Hayes what he was doing but that Hayes said something and ran off.
After making a U-turn, Muhammad said he again announced his office to Hayes and said, “Let me see your hands,” the report said.
Muhammad told COPA Hayes turned toward him, reached back and started to pull a dark object out of his waistband. Those actions were “consistent with someone pulling a weapon," Muhammad said.
Sitting in his girlfriend’s SUV, Muhammad said, he feared for his life and fired his semi-automatic pistol twice. Shortly after the shooting, a neighbor found a black cellphone near where Hayes had been standing.
Hayes suffered a gunshot wound to his left armpit and a graze wound to his upper left arm.
According to a federal lawsuit filed by Hayes against Muhammad and the city, he was “born with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
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While Hayes was 18 at the time of the shooting, “he functions at the cognitive level of a child, and he has difficulty communicating,” according to the suit.
COPA concluded Muhammad acted in an “objectively unreasonable” fashion yet initially recommended only a suspension of 90 days without pay.
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After consulting with then-Superintendent Eddie Johnson, though, COPA agreed Muhammad’s punishment should be doubled to six months without pay.
But attorneys for Hayes and Sgt. Isaac Lambert, whose whistleblower lawsuit alleges the department tried to cover up the circumstances of the shooting, have said Muhammad should have been fired.
Among its findings, the Police Board held that Muhammad acted “without lawful justification” when he used force “likely to cause death or bodily harm without a reasonable belief that such force was necessary.”
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Also Monday, the Finance Committee will consider a proposed $300,000 settlement in a federal lawsuit brought by a man who said police arrested him without cause in 2009 while he was jogging on the Far South Side.
Pierre Green’s lawsuit says he spent four years in jail before being cleared of various charges, and that the officers who arrested him conspired to cover up the fact he had done nothing wrong.
Aldermen will also vote on whether to award $750,000 to a man who filed a personal injury lawsuit against the city in Cook County Circuit Court.
jebyrne@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @_johnbyrne


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Chicago’s most anticipated restaurants of 2020 face a coronavirus-battered industry and an uncertain

Chicago’s most anticipated restaurants of 2020 face a coronavirus-battered industry and an uncertain future. Here’s how their opening plans have changed.

“ Our business model has always anticipated take-away options for the morning , because of the bakery , ” she @ @ @ @ @ are now shifting to make it a priority during the day .
We will be @ @ @ @ @ third of what was anticipated — for menu execution , packaging and counter service .
@ @ @ @ @ of the regulations for dining in , as long as we can prioritize the safety @ @ @ @ @ as a result the safety of the guests , we will continue to hire on @ @ @ @ @

May and June are typically boom months for new Chicago restaurants. Concepts that are months, even years in the making aim for spring openings, with restaurateurs eager to take advantage of the seasons when outdoor dining is at its peak.
But this year, when even established restaurants find themselves completely dark or forced into a carryout and delivery model — often with menus that are far less ambitious, culinarily, than they would be in normal circumstances — what hope is there for newcomers still waiting for their first customers?
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We take a look at eight eagerly anticipated openings — all at different stages of readiness — to see how their plans have changed.
Ever
Michael Muser, 45, director of operations at Ever poses for a portrait inside the restaurant during construction Tuesday, May 12, 2020, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
Planned opening: Spring 2020
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Now: Hoping to debut in July
Michael Muser and acclaimed chef Curtis Duffy are opening Ever, a restaurant anticipated to be among Chicago’s best restaurants when it finally opens. (Duffy and Muser were the creative force behind Grace, which received the maximum three stars from the Michelin Guide.) But construction delays, some of them attributable to the coronavirus slowdown, have pushed Ever’s schedule back.
“Construction being what it is — late — slowed even more,” Muser said. “Sure, you could continue, but at a much slower rate; you can’t have multiple tradesmen in at the same time. That plumber working in the corner? Nobody else go over there.”
There has also been the not-insignificant matter of receiving equipment ordered months earlier, Muser said.
“Anything traveling on a plane, a boat, a bus — it was like, ‘Where did it go?’” he said. “And you wrote the check already, so you want to get the stuff you paid for. Silverware from London, plates from Spain, textiles from France — everything we’d paid for, I wanted to know where it was. It was like playing whack-a-mole.”
However, the delays haven’t hurt the restaurant. Indeed, they may have helped.
“It’s weird with us, almost serendipitous,” Muser said. “We got pushed to a place in which I foresee Ever waking up in four to six weeks, or somewhere around there. And then come the thought experiments of what the world will look like. Try to guess what the demand will be when restaurants will reopen; how many out of 10 Chicagoans will race out?”
Light fixtures hang above a table as construction continues at Ever restaurant on May 12, 2020, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
“(General manager Amy Cordell) and I have hiring to do, people to place, commitments to live by,” Muser said. “We have to chase a completion date, but we know how to do that. But until we hear from (Gov. J.B. Pritzker), we’re being left on our own to make assumptions.
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“So Amy and I assume that masks will have to be worn, so, game on — let’s find the most beautiful masks in America, and maybe embroider our logo on the bottom chin line. By design, we were only going to seat 8 to 10 guests an hour, so that’s probably not a problem. But we need some specificity, and soon.”
The Elm
Planned opening: March 2020
Now: Hoping to debut carryout menu by late May
“We had just started training when the shutdown order came,” said Dan Spain, owner of an ambitious La Grange restaurant that, private party space included, could accommodate 580 guests. “The timing wasn’t the best, especially when you’re opening. But it wasn’t great for anyone.”
The Elm’s main dining room can seat 92; there’s also a 2,700-square-foot outdoor deck, and three private event rooms. “We had more than 60 private parties lined up,” Spain said. “Now people are pushing back dates, and, of course, wedding anniversaries and birthday parties — those dates have come and gone. Now we have to pivot, tweak the menu and start to do carryout, sticking to the highest-quality items we know will travel well. We want (carryout) to be as close to the restaurant experience as it can be.”
Spain is also making plans for in-restaurant dining, once it’s allowed, hoping there’s flexibility for restaurants such as The Elm, which could accommodate 100 or more customers even with 6-foot distancing.
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“I know the governor can’t make everybody happy, but a 50-person overall limit, for a restaurant of our size, doesn’t make sense to me,” he said. “If we can do 25% (occupancy), that makes sense. Obviously, we have to adopt every strategy possible to make our clients feel safe. We’re talking about a one-person limit per bathroom and an attendant followup, which is very labor-intense, but we feel that’s the experience we’re going for. And at the end of the day, it’s all about safety.”
Sophia
Planned opening: March 2020
Now: Opened this week for carryout/delivery
This Wilmette steakhouse is the brainchild of Glenn Keefer, of the bygone Keefer’s steakhouse, and Ryan O’Donnell, whose Ballyhoo Hospitality group includes Gemini Bistro and Coda di Volpe. The hope was to open its doors March 20. After enduring two months of the shutdown, and with Pritzker citing June 26 as the earliest possible reopening day, the pair decided to open for carryout.
“It really seemed that (a lift of the shutdown order) was nowhere in sight,” Keefer said. “Phase 3 is conditional; June 26 is conditional. We can’t wait forever.”
Glenn Keefer, seen here in a 2013 photo, opened new restaurant Sophia with Ryan O'Donnell this week. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
And so Sophia is offering carryout and delivery for dinner only. The menu includes ready-to-grill steaks to be cooked at home, seafood such as crab cakes and barbecue shrimp, and the Steak Sophia, a flatiron steak with mushrooms, peppercorns and cognac cream sauce.
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“It’s our signature,” O’Donnell said. “Like a hybrid of steak Diane and steak au poivre.”
Another reason for launching carryout, Keefer said, is that locals seemed eager for it.
“I do my insurance work (in the restaurant space),” he said, “and people were banging on the windows, asking questions. We didn’t really want the first taste of Sophia to be out of the box, but now we just want to get going.”
Kasama
Tim Flores and Genie Kwon planned to open a new restaurant in April before the pandemic impacted their schedule. (Kristen Mendiola Photography)
Planned opening: April 2020
Now: Will debut carryout menu next month
Tim Flores and Genie Kwon left four-star Oriole (where they were chef de cuisine and pastry chef, respectively) to fly solo — well, together — in a West Town space named Kasama, showcasing Flores’ contemporary-Filipino cuisine and Kwon’s pastry wizardry.
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“We thought we’d be open by the end of April,” Kwon said. “We were torn between being excited — we bought the building — but how do you celebrate in this climate?”
“It’s just tough,” Flores said. “Literally everyone we know doesn’t have a job.”
And so, the two are planning to debut in carryout mode, which could happen by June 15, Kwon said.
“Our business model has always anticipated take-away options for the morning, because of the bakery,” she said, “but we are now shifting to make it a priority during the day. We will be hiring minimal staff — a third of what was anticipated — for menu execution, packaging and counter service. Once we are fully aware of the regulations for dining in, as long as we can prioritize the safety of our co-workers, and as a result the safety of the guests, we will continue to hire on the remaining staff.”
“Fortunately, we hadn’t opened (prior to the shutdown order), so we didn’t have to lay off staffers,” Flores said.
“We have to be ready, but it is difficult to anticipate what business will be like once the restrictions are lifted,” Kwon said. “Lifting stay-in-place isn’t going to get rid of the virus; how are diners going to feel?”
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Marco’s Kitchen
Chef Marco Conte carries a dessert through the dining room at Marco's Kitchen in La Grange. The restaurant opened for business during the COVID-19 pandemic and currently offers to-go dinners and a pick-up produce package. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Planned opening: Late March
Now: Opened April 5 for carryout
Chef-owner Marco Conte is in a good mood, having had great success with Mother’s Day carryout (“400 dinners,” he said), but he still yearns for what might have been for his downtown La Grange restaurant.
“We had our licenses and were ready to open the last week of March, and then (came) the shutdown,” he said. “And I was scared; I didn’t know what to do. So my sous chef and I decided to open curbside takeout. We changed from international fusion (the original plan) to lower-cost family dinners, and we’re keeping the prices reasonable. And the response has been incredible.”
Conte, who ran Cafe Amano in Elmhurst for more than a dozen years, offers a set menu three days per week.
“Every dinner is a different holiday, a different country,” he said. “This weekend, we’re doing French Creole. You order the whole dinner. We keep our stock very low, overhead very low. I have a staff of five, myself included, and two just answer the phones. We’re not making a lot, but it’s enough to save the business.”
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At Marco's Kitchen in La Grange, chef-owner Marco Conte is selling packages of locally sourced produce during the coronavirus pandemic. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
In addition, Conte partnered with a produce distributor to create $10 produce bags, sourced from local farmers, for curbside pickup.
“You drive up to the curb, drop $10 in a box and we put the bag in the car,” he said. “The first week I sold 125 bags, then 300, then 375. And last week, 450 bags.”
Conte looks forward to opening his dining room, but wonders whether it will work under presumed restrictions on occupancy.
“My dining room only seats 40, so at 25%, we’d be down to 10 people,” he said. “If we open, maybe I’ll do a chef’s table for 10 to 12 guests, and that’s all we’ll do — a dining experience for a group of friends. Which is fine, but we’d continue offering curbside.”
Joe Flamm’s new restaurant
Joe Flamm (right) cuts tomatoes for a pasta dish as Roger Federer looks on during a 2018 visit, days before Federer played in the Lavar Cup. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Planned opening: Summer 2020
Now: Construction on hold, hoping to open in 2020
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Former executive chef at Spiaggia (and “Top Chef” Season 15 winner) Joe Flamm left his post to create a Croatian-Italian concept in the Fulton Market District. “Every time I look at the space, I get so excited and happy,” he said. “The idea of seeing people walk through the door when things are happening and service is moving — I’m so yearning for that right now, the smells and the sounds.”
Construction was to begin April 6.
“We just pulled the plug before we started,” he said. “We’re just waiting, going to see what happens, what the city says and what the regulations will be. Selfishly, I’ve put a lot of work into this, but at the same time, we weren’t far along, so we could pause and not have to lay off people. I’m grateful for that.”
Now Flamm is cooking at occasional charity efforts, caring for his 16-month-old son (“My wife is working, so I have him Monday through Friday while she works.”) and making a lot of breakfast.
“Chefs don’t even eat breakfast,” he said. “It’s hard, when you’re used to waking up at 11. I’ve cooked more breakfast in the last nine weeks than I’ve cooked in the last nine years.”
Flamm counts the days until his restaurant, still unnamed, can open. And he worries whether customers will show up.
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“I think that’s the one thing everybody’s worried about,” he said. “We had a floor plan, had things laid out, but we might be opening a slightly smaller restaurant than we’d planned. It’s tough, but I’m still hopeful.”
Ambria
Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises and the Alinea Group announced a joint project to reopen Ambria. From left are Rich Melman, Kiran Pinto, RJ Melman, Grant Achatz, Nick Kokonas, Kevin Brown and Steven Bernacki. (Lettuce Entertain You)
Planned opening: 2020
Now: Who knows
Back in October, word came of a joint venture between The Alinea Group and Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, to re-create the long-lived Ambria, a fine-dining French restaurant that actually deserves to be called “iconic.” Ambria was one of Chicago’s top restaurants for nearly 27 years, right up to its closing in 2007.
The intent was to unveil the new Ambria sometime this year. But the Belden-Stratford building, Ambria’s home, first needed to undergo a renovation — unrelated to the Ambria project — and the building’s historic status necessitated preservation oversight, and thus, delays.
The Belden-Stratford will be home to the re-created Ambria. (Joshua Lott / Chicago Tribune)
“We were ready to sign the lease, and construction, as soon as approval came,” Alinea Group co-owner Nick Kokonas said.
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And then came the shutdown, which not only halted work, but also cast serious doubt about the fine-dining landscape in the next couple of years.
“The landmarks delay saved us money, as we were forced to pause design and architectural work,” Kokonas said. “So we are now in a holding pattern waiting for that — could be a long time — and for the crisis to subside. We do intend to open someday; both Lettuce and the Alinea Group still love the idea of Ambria reimagined.”
Momotaro Italia
Gene Kato, executive chef at Momotaro, originally planned to open the Japanese-Italian restaurant Momotaro Italia sometime in 2020. (Boka Restaurant Group)
Planned opening: Late 2020
Now: Maybe never
It was an intriguing, fascinating idea by Momotaro executive chef Gene Kato and the Boka Group: Create a Japanese-Italian concept, based on a very real trend of Japan-based chefs staging in Italy, returning home, and merging traditional Italian techniques with Japanese ingredients.
The concept never got as far as picking a location, but Kato served an advance-preview menu for a few weeks at Dutch & Doc’s, another Boka Group restaurant, in early 2020.
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And now?
“I’m currently focusing on our curbside business at Momotaro, which we started last week,” Kato said. “I’m not sure on Momotaro Italia. This pandemic has changed the way I think about what is going to be a successful concept in our new norm.”


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Tribune Publishing and union agree to three-week furloughs for Chicago Tribune newsroom employees

Last month , Tribune Publishing implemented permanent pay cuts of up to 10 % for nonunion employees making $ 67,000 @ @ @ @ @ well as three-week furloughs for nonunion employees making between $ 40,000 and $ 67,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ cuts , with CEO Terry Jimenez forgoing two weeks of salary in addition to a @ @ @ @ @ annual base pay of $ 575,000 .

Tribune Publishing and the Chicago Tribune Guild agreed Wednesday to a three-week furlough for all unionized newsroom employees making $40,000 or more as a cost-saving measure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The furloughs will be taken in one-week increments from May through July, the Chicago-based newspaper chain said. Employees will continue to receive health benefits but no salary during the weeks they are on furlough.
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They also will be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits as well as the extra $600 per week unemployment supplement provided for under federal law through July 25.
Newsroom employees may resign from the company and receive severance instead of the furlough, the company said.
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Last month, Tribune Publishing implemented permanent pay cuts of up to 10% for nonunion employees making $67,000 per year or more as well as three-week furloughs for nonunion employees making between $40,000 and $67,000. Top company executives took pay cuts, with CEO Terry Jimenez forgoing two weeks of salary in addition to a 10% reduction in his annual base pay of $575,000.
The median pay last year for Tribune Publishing employees across the country was $47,249, according to an April filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Tribune Publishing had about 4,100 full-time employees at the end of 2019.
In addition to the Chicago Tribune, the company owns the Baltimore Sun; Hartford Courant; Orlando Sentinel; South Florida Sun Sentinel; New York Daily News; the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland; The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania; the Daily Press in Newport News, Virginia; and The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia.
A majority of the newsrooms are unionized, and all other bargaining units had already reached agreement with the company on pay cuts and furloughs. The Chicago Tribune Guild ratified the furlough agreement by an overwhelming margin Wednesday.
Media companies have been especially hard-hit by the economic disruption caused by the pandemic, and many have announced pay cuts and furloughs. Some have suspended print publication.
Last week, Tribune Publishing’s board voted to suspend its quarterly 25-cent cash dividend to “preserve liquidity.” The dividend, which the company began in November, pays shareholders about $9 million a quarter.
Tribune Publishing is scheduled to report its first-quarter earnings May 22.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich signs podcast deal

Also a former Illinois congressman , Blagojevich was convicted of crimes including the attempted sale of Barack Obama ’ s @ @ @ @ @ He was found guilty on 11 criminal counts related to the Senate seat and six @ @ @ @ @ a hospital executive and racetrack owner .
Five counts related to the Senate seat were @ @ @ @ @ His sentence , though , remained the same .

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich arrives at Denver International Airport on Feb. 18, 2020, in Colorado after being released from prison earlier in the evening. 'I can't wait to get home' Blagojevich said at the airport after President Trump commuted the ex-Illinois governor's 14-year sentence. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
Just in time for the next month of Illinois’ stay-at-home order, disgraced former Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich is getting a new platform.
Blagojevich, who exited federal prison earlier this year with the wave of a White House clemency wand and declared himself a Trumpocrat, will launch “The Lightning Rod” politics podcast on WLS-890 AM next Wednesday. That’s the same day the Illinois General Assembly reconvenes in Springfield after a pandemic hiatus.
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The former governor’s forthcoming podcast was announced in a news release from WLS parent company Cumulus Media and Marv Nyren, vice president/market manager of Cumulus Chicago.
“It will be messy, it will be raw and it will be Rod as you have never heard him before,” Nyren said.
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In a statement, Blagojevich also said: “After a long exile, I made it home. It’s a brand new day. I’m finally free and fired up to speak my mind, provide insights from the inside, and share what I’ve learned from the school of hard knocks.”
According to the news release, the show will “feature analysis about politics, government, trending stories and global issues, and will feature conversations with politicians, political experts, policymakers, celebrities and influencers about what’s worked, what hasn’t and who can make it better.”
This isn’t the first time Blagojevich has worked with WLS. In 2009, after he was arrested and charged in a public corruption case and the General Assembly booted him from office, Blagojevich filled in for a stint on the station’s morning show and another on Sunday afternoons.
President Donald Trump commuted Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence in February and released him from a Colorado federal prison four years early.
Also a former Illinois congressman, Blagojevich was convicted of crimes including the attempted sale of Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat. He was found guilty on 11 criminal counts related to the Senate seat and six counts involving fundraising shakedowns of a hospital executive and racetrack owner. Five counts related to the Senate seat were later dismissed on appeal. His sentence, though, remained the same.
Lisa Donovan is host of The Spin, the Tribune’s politics newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons.
ldonovan@chicagotribune.com
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Twitter @byldonovan


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Pingpong ball-size hail, lightning and scattered thunderstorms with possible ‘torrential downpours’

Pingpong ball-size hail, lightning and scattered thunderstorms with possible ‘torrential downpours’ Thursday throughout northern, central Illinois

The weather service warned that later storms could bring large hail , possibly as big as pingpong balls , as @ @ @ @ @ strong as 70 mph , with a potential for severe weather throughout the area , @ @ @ @ @ Interstate 80 .
Winds could knock out power lines or tree limbs , and flash @ @ @ @ @ areas such as Ottawa , Kankakee or Bloomington , officials said .

Storms should be on their way out of northern Illinois by early morning, and forecasters say a “mostly sunny’’ Friday awaits, with temperatures near 74 degrees.
Still, a 30% chance of showers and storms before 7 a.m. persists, and a severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 1 a.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
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But daytime Friday is shaping up to be mostly sunny, with a high near 74 and winds from five to 10 miles an hour, the NWS said.
Earlier rounds of storms had mostly subsided as of 8:30 p.m., forecasters said, after warning of the potential for windy, rainy weather with serious hail, lighting and “torrential downpours.’’
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The worst of the scattered storms moving through Illinois were expected from about 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, south of the Chicago area, according to the National Weather Service.
However, flood advisories and a flash flood watch remains in effect until 7 a.m. Friday for much of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana.
The flood advisories exist for parts of the Des Plaines River near Des Plaines and the east branch of the DuPage River near Bolingbrook, as well as parts of the Kankakee and Illinois rivers.
Earlier, the weather service warned that storms could bring large hail, possibly as big as pingpong balls, as well as wind gusts as strong as 70 mph, with a potential for severe weather throughout the area, but most likely south of Interstate 80.
Winds could knock out power lines or tree limbs, and flash flooding was possible in areas such as Ottawa, Kankakee or Bloomington, officials said earlier.
[7:00 AM CDT 5/14/2020] Several waves of storms are likely today with downpours and frequent lightning. This evening, storms may become severe with damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding possible. Stay up to date on the forecast! #ilwx #inwx pic.twitter.com/WTWiWqU95L — NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) May 14, 2020
Visit the Tribune’s weather page for more information. Check back for updates.
kdouglas@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @312BreakingNews


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Fact check: Altered video shared online falsely suggests Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot supports ‘New

Fact check: Altered video shared online falsely suggests Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot supports ‘New World Order’ conspiracy

Lightfoot goes on to explain that aldermanic prerogative isn ’ t a law or actual rule but part of the @ @ @ @ @ culture.
” To help get rid of the practice , Lightfoot says she plans to @ @ @ @ @ says the city will no longer honor the practice .
She tells the Tribune that @ @ @ @ @ , she will then hire new officials across key departments in the city , like @ @ @ @ @ are on board with abolishing the custom .

Mayor Lori Lightfoot wears a mask as she prepares to speak about coronavirus recently at the Historic Water Tower in Chicago.\ (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune / Chicago Tribune)
CLAIM: Video shows proof of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot supporting the “New World Order,” a conspiracy theory built on the idea that the world’s most wealthy and powerful are plotting to overthrow democracy and install a single, global authoritarian government.
AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The video was edited to take her words out of context. Lightfoot was not planning a global coup, she was talking about ending a long-standing and unusual custom in Chicago called “aldermanic prerogative,” which gave aldermen absolute power on zoning and development decisions in their home wards.
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THE FACTS: Social media users are taking a comment Lightfoot made in a 2019 video out of context to suggest she is part of a global scheme to overthrow U.S. democracy and institute a “New World Order.”
The video of Lightfoot talking was taken during an April 2019 interview with the Chicago Tribune, days after she won her mayoral bid with a historic campaign that vowed reforms that would root out corruption in the city.
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During the interview, Lightfoot said she would put a stop to aldermanic prerogative, sometimes called privilege, which allowed a single alderman (out of 50) to veto or hold up a project in their home ward. Some criticized the practice as unchecked power that was easy for aldermen to abuse. The Tribune’s original video is below.
Chicago Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot speaks on April 3, 2019, about how she'll end aldermanic privilege. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)
Lightfoot goes on to explain that aldermanic prerogative isn’t a law or actual rule but part of the city’s “dominant culture.” To help get rid of the practice, Lightfoot says she plans to sign an executive order that says the city will no longer honor the practice. She tells the Tribune that after that order is signed, she will then hire new officials across key departments in the city, like zoning and housing, who are on board with abolishing the custom.
“You pick the people to run those agencies and the deputies that are pledging allegiance to the new world order and good governance,” Lightfoot said.
Social media users are sharing an edited, one-minute video clip of that comment to suggest she is talking about trying to overthrow the government with a “New World Order.” Other social media posts share a screenshot of her quote to make the misleading claim.
In May 2019, after she was inaugurated, Lightfoot signed an executive order limiting aldermanic prerogative.
This is part of The Associated Press’ ongoing effort to fact-check misinformation that is shared widely online, including work with Facebook to identify and reduce the circulation of false stories on the platform.
Here’s more information on Facebook’s fact-checking program: https://www.facebook.com/help/1952307158131536


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Adler Planetarium lays off 120 staffers during coronavirus closure

Those let go on Wednesday include full- and part-timers , but further details about what jobs they held were not @ @ @ @ @ said it is paying them for another 60 days , with benefits through July , @ @ @ @ @ staffing needs when it is able to open again .

In the same week that it virtually celebrated its 90th birthday, Adler Planetarium laid off 120 employees in anticipation of continued revenue loss while its building is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a spokeswoman said Thursday morning.
"The Adler made the difficult decision to reduce our staff in order to help the Adler survive and continue to serve Chicago and the world in the post-pandemic future,” Senior Manager of Public Relations Jennifer Howell said via email.
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Those let go on Wednesday include full- and part-timers, but further details about what jobs they held were not immediately available. The museum said it is paying them for another 60 days, with benefits through July, and will “assess” staffing needs when it is able to open again.
Adler had 308 employees at the time it filed its 2018 federal taxes.
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Adler Planetarium in July, 2017. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
“Organization-wide, all departments — including the leadership structure — were affected,” CEO Michelle Larson said via email. “The Adler’s remaining staff will focus on transforming and scaling the museum’s unique offerings to serve constituents and communities through digital engagement while determining how to safely reopen to the public when we are able.”
Larson said she doesn’t anticipate being able to reopen until the region reaches Phase 4 and 5 of Governor Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan.
Asked to elaborate on the financial hit the planetarium is taking, Larson said, “The closure of our physical facility comes at the start of the season that generates a significant portion of our annual operating revenue.”
In fiscal year 2019, the museum earned just over $8 million from admission and event revenue, and its total expenditures were just over $20 million, according to public documents. Wages and employee benefits were about $10.3 million of the annual budget.
“The Adler has maintained payroll for all full-time and part-time staff since our closure.” Howell’s email said. “Those individuals whose positions have been eliminated will continue to receive standard compensation for 60 days and benefits through the end of July.”
Adler, located on Lake Michigan on the city’s Museum Campus, has been on an attendance upswing in recent years, but, like all such institutions, is heavily dependent on ticket sales. The space museum closed March 13, the date when most of its peer institutions announced such a move to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“Based on the recovery plans set forth by the Illinois Governor and Chicago Mayor’s offices, which responsibly recognize the serious nature of this pandemic, it is clear we will not be in a position to reopen our physical facility for quite some time,” said Howell.
“Therefore, we are looking at ways to position the museum to viably serve the public and deliver our mission in a virtual environment for the time being."
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sajohnson@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @StevenKJohnson


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Remembering the lives of those in Illinois who died from coronavirus

As the number of deaths attributable to COVID-19 ticks upward , the Tribune is working to chronicle those who have @ @ @ @ @ Chicago area or who have connections to our region .
These are some of those @ @

They were mothers and fathers, daughters and sons. Many were proud grandparents. Two were sisters from a tight-knit South Side family. All were loved, relatives say, and will be forever missed.
As the number of deaths attributable to COVID-19 ticks upward, the Tribune is working to chronicle those who have lost their lives in the Chicago area or who have connections to our region. These are some of those victims.
If you know of someone or would like to offer a remembrance of someone please share your information here. To file a death notice, go here.
Subscribe to the Chicago Tribune: Our mission is to deliver trusted and meaningful local news. Your support allows us to continue providing the award-winning, watchdog and in-depth journalism our community deserves. Subscribe here.


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--High school and college seniors are petitioning their schools to hold in-person graduation ceremonie

High school and college seniors are petitioning their schools to hold in-person graduation ceremonies later rather than never

“ I want to be very , very clear that we are not saying goodbye to our Class of 2020 @ @ @ @ @ , ” Schuler said .
“ If the state allows large gatherings in June , @ @ @ @ @ will definitely honor and celebrate our graduates on the football fields in their caps and @ @ @ @ @ be having a Class of 2020 senior BBQ when we can .
If we have @ @ @ @ @ celebrate our Class of 2020 with a special event , we will .
”

Students at more than a dozen suburban Chicago high schools and Northwestern University have launched online petitions demanding that their canceled graduation ceremonies be rescheduled once COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings are lifted.
“Quite frankly, even if you could fit all of the graduates in on a Zoom meeting, most of the kids wouldn’t even come, because we want a true celebration, just like the rest of the alumni have had,” said Emily Butryn, 17, a senior at John Hersey High School who started an online petition last month asking officials at Township High School District 214 to consider rescheduling the canceled graduation ceremonies at the district’s six high schools.
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To date, Butryn’s online petition has attracted more than 5,200 supporters, including students and parents.
Hersey High senior Emily Butryn,, 17, holds a portrait of herself on her iPad in her cap and gown outside of her Arlington Heights home. Students at high schools throughout the area, including Butryn, have launched petitions seeking to have traditional graduation ceremonies rescheduled after COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings are lifted. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
“This senior year was definitely not what any of us expected, but we’re trying to keep up hope, and we know we’re not alone,” Butryn said.
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Nationwide, more than half a million people have supported various online petitions started by high school and college students contending that virtual, online graduations are an unacceptable substitute for traditional, in-person ceremonies, according to officials at Change.org.
In Illinois, the five-phase “Restore Illinois” program recently unveiled by Gov. J.B. Pritzker indicates the soonest that graduation ceremonies, which can attract thousands of participants, would be allowed is phase five, when large public gatherings will once again be allowed.
At his daily coronavirus briefing on Tuesday, Pritzker said, “I want to find ways for people to celebrate, their graduations in particular.”
“I know how hard this is on young people here at the end of the year, not to be able to have the normal kind of graduation, and so we want to work with people to make that a special day for them,” Pritzker said.
The state’s education agency has issued guidance for holding alternative ceremonies that maintain social distancing, such as drive-up and drive-thru commencements. Some area schools, such as Glenbrook North and South high schools, have made tentative plans for both drive-up and traditional ceremonies later this summer.
District 214 Superintendent David Schuler said last month, prior to the start of the phased-in approach to the state’s reopening, that officials have hired a media production company to produce “a professional virtual commencement ceremony video for each school.”
“I want to be very, very clear that we are not saying goodbye to our Class of 2020 at the end of May,” Schuler said. “If the state allows large gatherings in June, July or August, we will definitely honor and celebrate our graduates on the football fields in their caps and gowns … and we will be having a Class of 2020 senior BBQ when we can. If we have to wait until Thanksgiving to celebrate our Class of 2020 with a special event, we will.”
Barrington High School senior Niyanthi Puliyala started an online petition asking officials to consider rescheduling either the graduation ceremony or prom for a later date.
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“Fighting the coronavirus should be everyone’s top priority and matters like these seem inconsequential at a time like this, but this is an idea I am proposing. ... Postpone the traditional graduation ceremony instead of having a virtual ceremony," she said in her online petition.
Puliyala told the Tribune that she saw other schools tentatively rescheduling later ceremonies and “it seems like we’re the one high school that just immediately jumped to a virtual graduation only, which was shocking.”
The petition asks officials to consider July 31 as a possible commencement date, since the high school has tentatively set prom for Aug. 1.
"Use the idea of a virtual graduation as a last resort like many other schools in the area even if it means that the ceremony itself may have to be altered. ... Have the ceremony itself open only to immediate family and recorded to accommodate those who can’t attend in order to decrease numbers,” the petition states.
Barrington Unit School District 220 Superintendent Brian Harris announced last month that officials were planning a virtual graduation on May 29 that he said would create “a personalized graduation experience for each student and their family.”
The virtual graduation will “include all the traditional components of our Barrington High School graduation. This includes a prelude, composed of student artwork and performances, speeches from students and faculty members, presentation of diplomas, and the Senior Video,” Harris said.
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“As a school community, we recognize and share our students’ feelings of disappointment and frustration over the cancellation of traditional events and celebrations for our seniors," Harris said. "While we cannot change the circumstances that COVID-19 has created, we are developing alternative experiences to celebrate the accomplishments of our seniors that fit within guidelines established by our local health departments and the CDC.”
An online petition started by a Northwestern University student identified as Hannah Hakim had attracted 3,600 signers as of Tuesday and encourages university President Morton Schapiro and the board of trustees “to commit to an in person commencement at a later date.”
“We are only asking for the same promise that other institutions have granted their seniors,” Hakim stated, adding that officials at nearby Loyola University Chicago are hoping to hold an in-person commencement ceremony at a later date.
“While we understand the severity of the pandemic and the reasons for which commencement was moved to a virtual platform, we do not understand why there was no mention of an in person commencement to be held at a later date,” Hakim said.
A spokesman for Northwestern said Thursday that officials plan to invite all 2020 graduates back to campus to celebrate their accomplishments on June 12, 2021. Officials hope to honor and recognize the class of 2020 during a convocation ceremony, including a stand-alone graduation ceremony for undergraduates distinct from celebrations of the class of 2021.
In light of that, Hakim said she plans to take down her petition and was pleased officials took notice of the issue.
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Michael Jones, managing director of campaigns at Change.org, said in a Tuesday email, "The biggest trend on Change.org right now is being led by hundreds of students, urging high school and colleges to reschedule or postpone graduations canceled by COVID-19.”
“There are petitions from almost every state, signed by thousands of students who don’t want their senior years to disappear without some kind of recognition,” Jones said.
Other local examples of graduation ceremony petitions on Change.org include those out of Elgin-based District U-46, Aurora-based Indian Prairie District 204, Wheaton North High and Lyons Township High in LaGrange.
kcullotta@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @kcullotta


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Wisconsin stay-at-home order struck down

Longtime Chicago TV news reporter Nancy Loo listed her Fox River Grove home in April before announcing she will relocate @ @ @ @ @ WGN America 's `` News Nation . ''


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Extra pay for many essential workers is expiring, even as COVID-19 deaths mount. Labor groups fight

Extra pay for many essential workers is expiring, even as COVID-19 deaths mount. Labor groups fight to keep ‘hero pay.’

Mariano ’ s , which is owned by the Cincinnati-based grocery giant , did not immediately confirm that it would @ @ @ @ @ union representing local grocery workers said the company told the union it planned to do @ @ @ @ @ , spokesman for Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union .

Temporary pay hikes for many essential employees working in grocery stores, warehouses and factories are set to end this week, and labor groups want to see the wage increases extended, arguing the risk of contracting the virus on the job has not abated.
Numerous employers implemented temporary wage increases or bonuses as the pandemic began, both to attract new workers and reward existing employees who were putting themselves at risk to come to work.
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As the spread of the coronavirus continues, with Illinois on Wednesday announcing the most COVID-19 deaths in a single day since the state started keeping track, there are calls from union and worker groups for companies to maintain the higher pay rates.
Amazon, which has been paying hourly employees an extra $2 per hour as well as double overtime, said Wednesday that it will extend those benefits through May 30. They had been set to expire Saturday.
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“We continue to see heavy demand during this difficult time and the team is doing incredible work for our customers and the community,” the company said in a statement.
Grocery chain Kroger announced it would suspend its $2 hourly bonus pay on Sunday, saying its “associates’ needs will continue to evolve and change as our country recovers.” It had extended the perk twice.
Lavance Fulton restocks shelves at Mariano's in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood on March 19, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Mariano’s, which is owned by the Cincinnati-based grocery giant, did not immediately confirm that it would follow suit, but the union representing local grocery workers said the company told the union it planned to do so, said Zach Koutsky, spokesman for Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
The union remains in talks with Mariano’s and hopes the retailer will extend what’s been dubbed “hero pay." It is calling for the perk to remain for as long as Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order is in place.
“We are very hopeful they see the errors of their ways,” Koutsky said.
Unions representing Kroger workers on the West Coast have criticized the company’s decision at a time when grocery sales are booming and some store workers have died of COVID-19.
Jewel-Osco’s $2-per-hour pay bump is set to expire Saturday, but the union hasn’t received any word from the company, so it is hopeful the benefit will be extended, Koutsky said. Jewel-Osco did not return a request for comment.
Local 881 represents more than 34,000 grocery store, drugstore and food production workers in Illinois and northwest Indiana.
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Several food production companies also offered temporary wage increases and bonuses.
Kraft Heinz, co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh, “continues to offer a $100 a week stipend to all manufacturing workers and we will evaluate this bonus program as the situation evolves,” spokesman Mike Mullen said.
Chicago-based Mondelez International, which makes Oreos and Triscuits among other snacks, plans to end its $2 hourly wage bump Saturday, after extending it from its original expiration date of May 2, spokeswoman Jessica Vogl said.
“These measures were a one-off to ensure continuity and long-term success,” she said.
aelejalderuiz@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--We’ve lowered the paywall on this essential coronavirus coverage

As the scope of this pandemic came into focus , I started thinking about people living in assisted-living facilities and @ @ @ @ @ bound to experience .
I ’ ve spoken several times at assisted-living facilities around Chicago @ @ @ @ @ aspects of life for residents is the social interaction and the activities and entertainment the @ @ @ @ @ s largely gone now .
Worse yet , many facilities have had to limit or @ @ @ @ @ seniors stuck alone in their rooms or apartments .
So maybe there ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ at least that aspect of this crisis .
I tossed an idea out on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ the hashtag # PandemicPals , asking for thoughts and advice on how to network with @ @ @ @ @ where there might be seniors facing isolation .
Read more .

As a public service to our readers and community, we have lowered the paywall on some of our most critical stories so everyone can access this important information. We rely on the support of our subscribers to fund our journalism. If you’re not already signed up, we hope you will consider subscribing.
We are updating a daily live blog with the latest developments on the reopening of Chicago and Illinois. This is where you’ll find updates on the number of COVID-19 cases in our area, as well as the most up-to-date recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Public Health, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
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As summer nears, Chicagoans are desperate to get out and about — to have a summer picnic with family, to get back to work, to get a haircut. Here’s how and when you might be able to do those things.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday a five-phase plan to get Illinois reopened as the COVID-19 pandemic slows its toll on health care providers. The plan, from “Rapid Spread” to “Illinois Restored,” splits the state up into regions and allows each region to open a different phase should the impact of the pandemic be different throughout the state. The plan also emphasizes that a region can move backward if the health metrics indicate enough risk. Read more.
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Testing for COVID-19 has greatly expanded in Illinois, with the state announcing more than 10,000 test results a day since April 24. The expansion has allowed the state to open up its guidance for who should be able to get a coronavirus test. The Illinois Department of Public Health is saying that testing is available without a doctor’s order to anyone with coronavirus symptoms or an underlying risk factor. Tests are also provided to people on the front lines of the pandemic, such as medical workers, first responders and employees of prisons or nursing homes. Search the map for coronavirus testing site near you.
All Illinois residents over age 2 must wear a face mask when they can’t maintain a 6-foot social distance in public. Studies show that the coronavirus can spread between people interacting in close proximity, including people who are not showing symptoms. Here’s where you can find them, what kind to get and how to make your own.
Americans are brainstorming with neighbors, posting questions on social media, and googling for tips and advice. The question at the center of all the hand wringing and head scratching: How do you thank the essential workers who remain out in the world, exposing themselves to greater risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, so that we can buy our groceries, receive our mail, travel by public transportation, and get health care if we need it? Here are some creative ideas to inspire you.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 68 (Chicago Tribune)
They were mothers and fathers, daughters and sons. Many were proud grandparents. Two were sisters from a tight-knit South Side family. All were loved, relatives say, and will be forever missed. As the number of deaths attributable to the coronavirus ticks upward, the Tribune is working to chronicle those who have lost their lives in the Chicago area or who have connections to our region. These are some of those victims.
Hundreds of Chicago restaurants have pivoted their operations to delivery, takeout or curbside pickup after Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that all bars and restaurants in Illinois are closed for dining-in service through April 30. We’re collecting information on restaurants across the area that are still open for delivery or take out. Find a restaurant near you.
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A sign in the windows of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, seen on March 11, 2020, reminds people to wash their hands. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
You wake up with a sore, scratchy throat, and begin coughing and sneezing. It’s probably a run-of-the-mill cold, or it could be the beginning of a bout of seasonal flu. But with dozens of cases of the novel coronavirus surfacing in Illinois, some people are bound to wonder: Could this be the coronavirus? Here’s what experts advise for Illinoisans who fear they are showing signs of coronavirus.
The spread of the coronavirus pandemic has placed an extra burden on Chicagoland nonprofit organizations. Here is an evolving list of where you can make donations to organizations helping those in need.


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--They are not doctors or nurses. But they share the same elevated exposure to coronavirus, and they f

They are not doctors or nurses. But they share the same elevated exposure to coronavirus, and they feel forgotten.

Huang is one of thousands of people who work in hospitals who are not doctors or nurses , but who @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus .
They walk through the same doors , use the same elevator @ @ @ @ @ precautions when they return home to their families .
They are food service workers who @ @ @ @ @ up food for patients , electricians who travel throughout a hospital to change lightbulbs and @ @ @ @ @ And many say they feel forgotten .

When she uses her equipment to assess the kidneys of COVID-19 patients, Angela Huang scoots her machine so close that she and the patient are often hip to hip.
As a diagnostic medical sonographer at a Chicago hospital, Huang is sometimes in the rooms of patients with the coronavirus for an hour. She holds the hands of people nervous about procedures; she scans their organs.
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“You are with your machine within 2 feet of the patient,” she said. “You are intimately connected with them.”
Angela Huang is a diagnostic medical sonographer at a Chicago hospital. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
It’s a fascinating job she loves. But it’s a role now putting her at more risk than she ever imagined.
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Huang is one of thousands of people who work in hospitals who are not doctors or nurses, but who share the same elevated exposure to the coronavirus. They walk through the same doors, use the same elevator buttons and take the same precautions when they return home to their families. They are food service workers who bring in trays and cut up food for patients, electricians who travel throughout a hospital to change lightbulbs and receptionists who welcome patients. And many say they feel forgotten.
“People feel overlooked,” Huang said, “and they’re definitely a part of that front line.”
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, at least 5,913 Illinoisans who work in health care have tested positive for COVID-19, and 34 have died. And the numbers are likely larger because of inconsistencies and omissions in data collected.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported about 9,000 cases of COVID-19 among health care personnel, a wide designation that includes pharmacists, laboratory workers, security guards and clerical staff. Within this group, 90% were not hospitalized, and 27 people died. A CDC spokeswoman noted this data is likely an underestimate.
Greg Kelley, president of SEIU Healthcare Illinois, said the union has been trying to find out from hospitals how many members have been sick. Employees the union represents include clerical workers, lab assistants, dietitians, physical therapists and cooks. These are hospital workers like Juan Martinez, a surgical technologist who died in April, just days before his planned retirement date, after testing positive for the virus.
“The virus doesn’t discriminate,” Kelley said. “We have too often focused on doctors and nurses, and while obviously they are critically important to the team, there are thousands of workers who aren’t doctors, who aren’t registered nurses, who are also working on the front line, who are too often forgotten, who aren’t protected.”
In April, Jefferey Haggins, a mental health aide at Loretto Hospital, got a fever and began experiencing shortness of breath, then fatigue. He tested positive for COVID-19. Haggins spoke to reporters from a hospital bed in intensive care, where he lay prone with oxygen support. He has since been discharged.
His unit saw COVID-19 patients daily, he said. He had access to masks, but brought his own hand sanitizer.
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“We don’t feel protected,” he said. “We have to fight and scratch and claw to get the basic, the below basic, of necessities.”
The risks that all workers are taking should be offset by hazard pay for everyone, as well as protective gear that is easily accessible, Kelley said, adding that all hospitals should have widespread testing available to workers.
As an emergency room technician at Loretto Hospital, Wellington Thomas’ duties include lifesaving measures such as assisting with ventilation and wound care. He said he is concerned about whether enough protective gear will be consistently available and where it will be distributed.
“We do take care of patients,” he said. “The problem in this situation we’re facing right now is, are we being taken care of?”
Michael Hickey, an electrician at Provident Hospital, works around the hospital, making sure no light is out. He wants patients arriving at the hospital to feel the place is cared for and, therefore, they will be too. Nonetheless, he worries about his safety.
“I’ve got two kids at home. I’ve got a wife at home, my parents are in their 70s, her parents are in their 70s, and I’m a diabetic,” he said. “When you click off a couple of different checkmarks on that list, I was super nervous. I’m still super nervous about it.”
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As a housekeeping specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Candice Martinez does not know a patient’s illness when she enters a room to clean. Early on, some patient rooms were marked with a COVID-19 designation. However, some were not. Martinez tested positive in March for the coronavirus.
“I started feeling achy, then my throat started hurting,” said Martinez, who returned to work this month. “It’s scary because I’m not sure how this is supposed to play out.”
She said as the pandemic began to spread and more patients were admitted, she was provided with protective gear, but not every workday. She was given only surgical masks, not N95 respirators.
Angela Huang is a diagnostic medical sonographer at a Chicago hospital. (Angela Huang)
During each shift at her hospital, Huang visits patients in the COVID-19 unit. The first time she walked in, she said she was spooked by the plastic sheets separating the unit from the rest of the hospital.
Her first COVID-19 patient had a seizure during her scan. When she arrived with her equipment to scan her second patient, a doctor outside told her the patient had just passed away.
These days, the long process to put on protective gear has become a new normal for Huang. But as a single mom, she worries about bringing the virus home to her son.
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Recently, Huang was in a room with a 95-year-old patient with the coronavirus. The patient was nervous about having a catheter put in, so Huang went to find someone to help calm her.
“It’s really an honor to be able to scan COVID patients right now,” she said. “They’re not allowed visitors, and often times we are one of the only people that they see.”
Huang walked outside the room to see if someone could assist. The first person she saw was not a medical worker, but a housekeeping specialist passing by. Huang asked if she would be willing to come in and hold the woman’s hand.
“She did not hesitate,” Huang said. “She jumped in and grabbed a gown.”
abowen@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-14--Column: Lightfoot says lakefront will remain closed, Lake Michigan responds: ‘Oh, thank God'

“ For too long , we have been subjected to butts , ” the granular material said .
“ So @ @ @ @ @ and cigarette .
And don ’ t get us started on the trash .
Fast-food @ @ @ @ @ water bottles , diapers .
You humans , even on a good day , are @ @ @ @ @ and while we wish you no ill health , we are thrilled you will remain @ @ @ @ @ .
This will give us a chance to reflect on the slow , wave-churning erosion @ @ @ @ @ to ponder the words of the late conservationist Rachel Carson , who noted that ‘ @ @ @ @ @ in every grain of sand there is a story of the earth .
’ ”

A visibly relieved Lake Michigan responded enthusiastically to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s announcement that, due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the city’s lakefront will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
“Oh, thank God, I don’t want this vacation to end,” the Great Lake said Wednesday, gleefully stretching part of itself gently onto the sandy shore. “I just wasn’t ready to have a bunch of bipedal meat sacks dragging their feet along my shallow bits and throwing rocks into me. And the staring. Ugh. It’s like, ‘Take a picture, it’ll last longer!’ I get it, I’m beautiful, but c’mon. Privacy!”
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During a virtual speech to the Economic Club of Chicago on Wednesday, Lightfoot gave no indication when the lakefront would reopen but made clear the coming months will require Chicagoans to keep social distancing and, whenever possible, stay home.
“WOOOOO-HOOOOOOO!!!” said a spokesblade for a large patch of often-trod-upon grass near Montrose Beach. “I mean, we feel bad for you humans and everything, but in our defense, every spring and summer you come along with your lawn chairs and flip-flops and dogs and stomp the living chlorophyll out of us. For once we just get to hang out and wave around in the breeze untrampled. We deserve this.”
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According to a Tribune report, Ald. Harry Osterman, whose 48th Ward includes the Edgewater neighborhood’s lakefront, agreed with Lightfoot’s decision.
“Any reopening has to be done in a way that puts residents’ health and safety first and foremost,” Osterman said. “This is something we all want to see happen.”
To which approximately 20 billion grains of sand on North Avenue Beach responded, “You’re darn right we do.”
The sand grains, speaking in unison, their brows imperceptibly furrowed, read from a long list of grievances against human beachgoers.
“For too long, we have been subjected to butts,” the granular material said. “So many butts, both human and cigarette. And don’t get us started on the trash. Fast-food wrappers, beer bottles, water bottles, diapers. You humans, even on a good day, are unpleasant to have around, and while we wish you no ill health, we are thrilled you will remain off us for some time. This will give us a chance to reflect on the slow, wave-churning erosion that led us here and to ponder the words of the late conservationist Rachel Carson, who noted that ‘in every curving beach, in every grain of sand there is a story of the earth.’ ”
Of course not all members of the lakefront ecosystem were happy about the news. A loose coalition of heavily armed rats and squirrels calling themselves “Hungry Rodents For Human Liberty” occupied picnic tables at beaches along the lakefront Wednesday holding signs reading “Your Government Shouldn’t Stop You From Dropping Food” and “Your HOAX Virus Left Our Garbage Cans Empty” and “FIRE FAUCI!!”
On the human side, Steve Goldentan, 24, of the Gold Coast stood near the entrance to Oak Street Beach wearing an overpriced tank top and saying, to no one in particular, that his well-toned and tanned arms were “lubed up and ready for flexin’.”
“This sucks, man,” Goldentan said. “I feel seriously bad for the ladies who gotta wait who knows how long to check out Stevie-G’s rockin’ abs.”
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Reached by phone late Wednesday, “the ladies” said they are not at all concerned about seeing Stevie-G’s rockin’ abs and wish he would put a mask on or go inside, ideally forever.
Asked for additional comment, Lake Michigan simply rolled its waves in an aquatic mix of embarrassment and exasperation.
In the distance, a single blade of grass shouted, “Up yours, Stevie-G!”
rhuppke@chicagotribune.com