chicagotribune--2020-05-29--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Here’s what happened May 28 with COVID-19 in the Chicago area

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker confirms that all four regions of Illinois will move to the third phase of his five-phase reopening plan on Friday .
The 28-day tracking period for all four regions will reset on Friday , meaning the earliest any region could move into the next phase is June 26 , Pritzker said .
The opening of libraries and park buildings will happen on June 8 , Lightfoot said .
The mayor said she will have to see how things go with these initial steps before considering reopening the lakefront .
Also on Thursday , officials announced 1,527 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional deaths .
That pushes the statewide known case count to 115,833 total since the pandemic began .
The statewide death toll now stands at 5,186 .
8:28 p.m. : U. of I. study says Illinois can expect more than half-million full-time job losses Illinois will lose the equivalent of 550,000 yearlong full-time jobs due to the pandemic , with 40 % of them concentrated in trade , transportation , leisure and hospitality services and the professional sector , according to a new study from the University of Illinois .
The study by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government and Public Affairs also warned that more than $ 28.5 billion in income will be lost to Illinois citizens and businesses , along with $ 76 billion in economic output representing the value of goods and services produced due to stay-at-home and business closures .
The study ’ s authors said that in a slow reopening of the state ’ s economy , small changes in the critical economic component of household spending , such as non-food shopping or going to restaurants , could significantly impact a recovery .
The authors of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the pandemic appears unlike previous economic-driven recessions , as Illinois ’ economy is moving in concert with the entire country rather than lagging behind the rest of the nation .
“ What can not be forecast at this time is whether Illinois ’ recovery will lag that of the U.S. or whether the historical divergence between Illinois and U.S. job growth will persist , widen or narrow , ” said the authors , professors Geoffrey J.D .
Hewings , Kenneth Kriz and David Merriman .
Illinois , they said , has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one sector have ripple effects that affect directly or indirectly other sectors .
As a result , the authors projected 400,000 direct yearlong job losses from the pandemic and another 150,000 from a multiplier effect of indirect job losses for each direct job lost .
Read more here .
—Rick Pearson 7:33 p.m. : Facing multiple legal battles with churches , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker is expected to lift 10-person limit on services in new stay-at-home order Facing a barrage of legal challenges from churches , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who can attend in-person religious services when he signs a new version of his statewide stay-at-home order on Friday .
The move comes as the state moves into phase three of Pritzker ’ s reopening plan , with a wider range of businesses opening their doors for the first time in more than two months .
On Thursday , the Illinois Department of Public Health issued new guidelines for houses of worship , hours before the state responded to the U.S. Supreme Court in a lawsuit by two churches seeking to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s extended stay-at-home order , issued April 30 and set to expire after Friday , added religious services to the list of “ essential ” activities for which residents are permitted to leave their homes but mandated that they be limited to 10 or fewer people .
In its Supreme Court filing , the state argues that the churches ’ request is moot because Pritzker “ has announced that after that date religious gatherings will no longer be subject to mandatory restrictions.
” “ Having received many plans and ideas from responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detailed proposals and has provided guidance , not mandatory restrictions , for all faith leaders to use in their efforts to ensure the health and safety of their congregants , ” Pritzker said Thursday at his daily press briefing .
That includes “ suggestions ” for capacity limits and limited indoor gatherings to 10 people or fewer , he said .
Read more here .
—Dan Petrella and Jamie Munks 7:05 p.m. : The state tried to test for COVID-19 in every nursing home .
It ’ s now ordering homes to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 has taken in nursing homes , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker on Thursday ordered all long-term facilities to figure out how to test residents and staff for the virus .
The new emergency rule for the first time pushes the testing responsibility to the facilities themselves , and it signals the Pritzker administration ’ s most confrontational stance to date against an industry that increasingly had been pressuring the government to lead and expand testing efforts .
In announcing the rule , Pritzker told reporters that some privately run facilities had refused state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules “ to counteract any heel-dragging ” in efforts to stem the spread of a virus that ’ s already killed more than 2,400 residents and staffers , nearly half of Illinois ’ total fatalities from the virus .
“ Many facilities have been great partners , and they should be applauded , ” he said .
“ But long-term care residents are some of our most vulnerable .
That ’ s why strong compliance by many isn ’ t good enough.
” The new rule does not specify exactly when facilities must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a facility must do so if it ’ s experiencing an outbreak , or if state or local officials tell them to do so .
Read more here .
—Joe Mahr 6:05 p.m. : Sexual abuse against children could be going unreported during the pandemic , experts warn as calls to Illinois hotline plummet Reports of sexual misconduct against Chicago Public Schools students -- as well as calls to the child abuse hotline operated by the state of Illinois – have both dropped dramatically since the coronavirus pandemic began .
And while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been less opportunities for physical or sexual abuse against children , experts say vulnerable children could actually be at greater risk during the pandemic .
That ’ s because teachers – who are required by law to report suspected child abuse – are no longer able to monitor their children ’ s well-being as closely .
But child protection officials are asking teachers to remain vigilant .
Read more here .
—Hannah Leone 5:25 p.m. : Lightfoot backs Chicago ’ s bid to be one of the NHL ’ s playoff hubs — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lori Lightfoot expressed optimism Thursday the United Center could host NHL playoff games if the league chooses Chicago as one of its two hub cities , but she emphasized games would have to be played without fans as the city tries to preserve a downward trend of coronavirus infections .
“ All of these decisions are still in discussion at the league level , ” Lightfoot told reporters .
“ My expectation is that in the first instance , yes , they will be playing ( in ) empty stadiums.
” The NHL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that games will be played without fans .
Each team ’ s personnel will be limited to 50 people in the hub city , and all but a few of them will be allowed in the arena .
On Tuesday , NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed the Blackhawks would be included in a 24-team playoff format — the No .
12 seed Hawks will face the fifth-seeded Edmonton Oilers — and he also revealed Chicago made a list of 10 finalists vying to become hub cities .
Lightfoot said Thursday , “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of getting hockey playoffs here in Chicago .
As you know , we are a hockey city .
We ’ re one of the original franchises in the league .
Hockey is deeply engrained into the sports fabric of our city and I ’ m going to do everything I can to support the efforts of the Blackhawks and others to bring hockey playoff to Chicago.
” Read more here .
—Phil Thompson President Donald Trump said Thursday he would extend federally covered National Guard deployments to deal with the coronavirus pandemic through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cutoff date would deny members access to benefits .
“ The men and women of the National Guard have been doing a great job fighting the Coronavirus .
This week , I will extend their Title 32 orders through mid-August , so they can continue to help states succeed in their response and recovery efforts , ” the president tweeted .
The Title 32 designation means that the Guard ’ s activations are federal funded , saving the states from the cost of utilizing guard members .
Trump ’ s previous extension of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before thousands of members would have qualified for education and retirement benefits .
Administration critics questioned whether the original date was set intentionally in an effort to avoid awarding benefits , including access to the post-9/11 G.I Bill , that become available after 90 days of activation in a federal emergency .
“ While today ’ s decision to extend the service of our men and women in the National Guard is a step in the right direction , it shouldn ’ t have taken this long or required public pressure , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moline .
Bustos was among more than 70 members of Congress who sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mike Esper more than a week ago asking for an extension of Guard deployment .
“ This pandemic has no end date , which is why we need these servicemen and women , ” Bustos said of Trump ’ s latest extension .
“ They are vital to our response to COVID-19 and should be activated for the duration of the president ’ s emergency and disaster declarations.
” “ After four letters and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message : The 40,000 National Guards troop responding to the COVID-19 pandemic deserve full benefits for putting themselves at risk to protect the rest of us , ” she said .
“ I ’ m glad that , after repeatedly trying to nickel and dime our troops , he finally abandoned his cynical ploy to cut off the Title 32 authorization at 89 days to deny members of the National Guard access to federal benefits that require 90 days of service.
” The president ’ s deployment extension also came after 42 governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued Guard activation .
The letter was signed by the bipartisan leaders of the National Governors Association and included the signature of Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker .
“ As states and territories move toward recovery and reopening , our National Guard will be critical in supporting operations such as testing , distribution of personal protective equipment , supply and food chain support , augmenting staff at nursing homes , and supporting warehouse operations , ” the letter said .
“ Likewise , our National Guard are perfectly positioned to support the federally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your Guidelines for Opening Up America Again , ” it said .
—Rick Pearson 2:51 p.m. : 1,527 new known COVID-19 cases and 104 additional deaths as all four state regions set to move into phase 3 of reopening plan Gov .
J.B. Pritzker confirmed Thursday that all four regions of Illinois will move to the third phase of his five-phase reopening plan on Friday .
“ And while it ’ s at least a few weeks off , I want to affirm that the three metrics that have brought us from phase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same as those that will move us into phase four , ” Pritzker said at his daily news briefing .
The 28-day tracking period for all four regions will reset on Friday , meaning the earliest any region could move into the next phase is June 26 , Pritzker said .
To move to the next phase , the percentage of positive tests must remain below 20 % and not increase by more than 10 percentage points for 14 days , hospital admissions for COVID-19 must remain flat for 28 days , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensive-care beds and ventilators to handle a 14 % surge in cases .
Pritzker , whose administration is facing a 7 p.m. deadline to respond in the U.S. Supreme Court in a lawsuit brought by a pair of churches challenging his stay-at-home order , also announced that guidelines will be released Thursday for houses of worship to resume services .
The announcement came as officials reported 1,527 new cases of the coronavirus and 104 more fatalities , bringing the total of known cases to 115,833 and the death toll to 5,186 statewide since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p.m. : llinois will lose the equivalent of 550,000 year-long full-time jobs due to the pandemic llinois will lose the equivalent of 550,000 year-long full-time jobs due to the pandemic , with 40 % of them concentrated in trade , transportation , leisure and hospitality services and the professional sector , according to a new study from the University of Illinois .
The study by the university system ’ s Institute of Government and Public Affairs also warned that more than $ 28.5 billion in income will be lost to Illinois citizens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in economic output representing the value of goods and services produced due to stay-at-home and business closures .
The study ’ s authors said that in a slow reopening of the state ’ s economy , small changes in the critical economic component of household spending , such as non-food shopping or going to restaurants , could significantly impact a recovery .
The authors of the study note that the recession caused by the pandemic appears that unlike previous economic-driven recessions , as Illinois ’ economy is moving in concert with the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the nation .
“ What can not be forecast at this time is whether Illinois ’ recovery will lag that of the U.S. or whether the historical divergence between Illinois and U.S. job growth will persist , widen or narrow , ” said the authors , Professors Geoffrey J.D .
Hewings , Kenneth Kriz and David Merriman .
Illinois , they said , has a complex interactive economy , and interruptions in one sector have ripple effects that affect directly or indirectly other sectors .
As a result , the authors projected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic and another 150,000 from a multiplier effect of indirect job losses for each direct job lost .
The study forecast a decline of nearly $ 52.6 billion in production in the service sector , representing a loss of $ 19.7 billion in income and more than 389,000 full-time jobs .
The transportation , communications and pubic utilities sector will see a $ 14 billion loss in production , $ 4.2 billion in income and a decline of more than 65,000 jobs .
The study said the ripple effect in the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sectors .
Construction output will fall $ 2.6 billion and income loss will be $ 1.3 billion while 26,450 jobs in the sector will be lost .
Governments in Illinois will have more than 30,000 full-time job losses , the research found .
“ Many of the unemployed will be able to garner relatively generous unemployment benefits due to recently enacted federal legislation ” granting an additional $ 600 in weekly benefits through July , the authors said .
“ Despite this potentially mitigating factor , the hardship is undeniable and the macroeconomic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a significant influence on economic recovery will be the degree that employees feel comfortable returning to the workplace and how households view the risk of attending cultural and leisure activities .
“ These were not risks faced by households in the recovery from previous recessions , so they add an important layer of uncertainty to the current economic situation , ” the study said .
—Rick Pearson 1:22 p.m. : Lightfoot says Chicago will move to phase 3 of her reopening plan on June 3 Lightfoot said she will have to see how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering reopening the lakefront .
Lightfoot called on businesses to stagger start times for their workers to hold down crowding on trains and buses as people commute to work in greater numbers .
Read more here .
—John Byrne 12:57 p.m. : As Chicago moves to next phase of reopening , CTA says it will watch crowds and make announcements to keep riders apart As Chicago enters the next phase of reopening during the pandemic , the CTA said it will use cameras to monitor crowds at stations and on trains and make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wait for the next train .
The agency also plans to place decals on station floors “ guiding riders on where to stand and how to keep distance , ” according to a draft of guidelines posted Thursday ahead of phase three in the city , which will likely begin in early June and allow many offices , day care centers , retailers and gyms to open .
The CTA has remained open throughout the stay-at-home order , but overall ridership has been down 80-85 % each day , according to agency spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not know how much ridership will increase over the next weeks , but they are encouraging riders to use other forms of transportation for non-essential travel .
For those who use the CTA , the agency is asking riders to continue taking precautions like social distancing , wearing masks , not boarding crowded trains and buses “ and being mindful and respectful of fellow customers.
” Read more here .
—Sophie Sherry Two animal shelters in Cook County are getting a combined $ 8 million to expand their facilities and ensure there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a nonprofit located in Chicago Heights , was awarded $ 6 million , while the city of Evanston was given $ 2 million , Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced in a press conference Thursday .
The grants are part of the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control ’ s “ Housing Cook County ’ s Animals program ” announced in November to help revamp nonprofit and government-run shelters that may face overcrowding as long as they agree to house rescue animals .
Preckwinkle said the grants will help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away at the shelters .
“ Over the last few decades , the way shelters care for our pets has evolved , ” Preckwinkle said in a news conference .
“ Many of their facilities have not .
… And they do not provide an optimal environment that helps them engage successfully with potential adopters.
” Read more here .
—Alice Yin 12:24 p.m. : Bosses say $ 600 coronavirus unemployment boost makes reopening harder .
Some workers ‘ are making more money than they ’ ve ever made by not working right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maker Hart Schaffner & Marx furloughed its nearly 250 factory employees , the Des Plaines-based company called them all back to work , marshaling their talents to cut and sew face masks suddenly in high demand to protect against COVID-19 .
But there was an unanticipated hurdle : many employees were making more money on unemployment insurance than they did working .
While unemployment benefits usually pay a fraction of a person ’ s regular wages — 47 % in Illinois , up to a cap — people laid off or furloughed amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 600 per week through July .
Three-quarters of the factory workers , whose jobs on average pay above $ 15 an hour , voiced concerns about letting go of the extra cash , said Ken Ragland , chief operating officer at W Diamond Group , which manufactures the Hart Schaffner & Marx brand .
In a difficult conversation , he told their union that those who didn ’ t return to work within 72 hours would lose their jobs — and also lose their unemployment benefits — unless they had a legitimate reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care constraints .
Read more here .
—Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz 11 a.m. : Coronavirus tab for Chicago Public Schools now up to about $ 44 million So far , Chicago Public Schools estimates about $ 44 million to address the pandemic , with about 20 % of that spending beyond the district ’ s regular contract costs , Chief Operating Officer Arnie Rivera told the Board of Education Wednesday .
That includes an estimated $ 24.4 million on technology such as laptops , tablets and internet hotspots , with $ 4.4 million of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency coronavirus authorization approved by the Board of Education in March .
Other expenditures include $ 1.2 million for emergency cleaning and supplies such as soap and masks ; $ 10.2 million for essential personnel ; $ 3.4 million for educational materials for distance learning ; and $ 4.9 million for nutrition and other costs , ranging from student meal delivery to reimbursement for canceled international trips .
—Hannah Leone 10:50 a.m. : Ford temporarily shut downs Chicago Heights stamping plant Wednesday for COVID-19 cleaning , the fourth factory to face production disruption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Co. temporarily paused production at its stamping plant in Chicago Heights Wednesday for sanitation after an employee at the facility tested positive for COVID-19 .
The company closed production on one line at the stamping plant , the Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday evening .
Ford notified workers known to have been in close contact with the infected individual and asked them to self-quarantine for 14 days , according to the Free Press .
The Dearborn , Michigan-based automaker stopped production at its Kansas City Assembly Plant Tuesday .
Last week , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plant , which makes Lincoln Aviator , Ford Explorer and Police Interceptor SUVs , and its Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan after employees tested positive for COVID-19 .
Read more here .
—Abdel Jimenez Most of the new drive-up test sites are in the Chicago area .
A list of CVS testing locations is available here .
All of these CVS pharmacy drive-thru sites use self-swab tests and patients must make an appointment first , the company said in a news release .
Patients should stay in their vehicles and will be directed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will be provided with a test kit and instructions .
A CVS employee will observe the self-swab process to make sure it ’ s done properly , the news release said .
Tests will be sent to an independent lab and results are expected in about three days .
CVS Health said it ’ s establishing 1,000 test sites across the country , and more than half are in communities in need of the most support during disease outbreaks and other hazardous events , as defined by the social vulnerability index developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Prevention .
The index takes into account factors like poverty , lack of access to transportation and crowded housing , according to the CDC .
—Angie Leventis Lourgos Workers at Sunnyside dispensary in Lakeview have cast ballots , and Instacart employees at a nearby Jewel-Osco are also in the process of voting by mail on whether or not to unionize .
Workers at the Dill Pickle Co-Op in Logan Square staged a demonstration asking the co-op to recognize their 13-member union , which has been certified by the National Labor Relations Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers … are reaching out and saying , ‘ I ’ m called a hero , I ’ m deemed essential .
I look at my pay stub , I look at my benefits , I look at my workplace protections and there is a big mismatch , ' '' said Zach Koutsky , spokesman for Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union , which represents more than 34,000 grocery store , drugstore and food production workers in Illinois and northwest Indiana .
Read more here .
—Ally Marotti Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed since mid-March are preparing to let customers back in stores starting Friday .
That doesn ’ t include stores in Chicago , which is not planning to loosen restrictions on retailers that are not considered essential until early June .
But the coronavirus pandemic means it won ’ t be business as usual .
Here ’ s what to expect .
9:16 a.m. : Legal marijuana was supposed to help communities hurt by the war on drugs .
But COVID-19 may crush efforts to diversify Illinois ’ largely white weed industry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still illegal under federal law , which makes it harder for companies to land financing .
And finding a site can be difficult and expensive because the rules on where a cannabis business can locate vary wildly from town to town .
To foster opportunities for entrepreneurs of color to break into an industry that has seen sales of about $ 147.5 million of recreational weed just in the first four months , the state ’ s recreational marijuana law laid out specific social equity rules .
But now the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diversify the largely white-owned industry as they run out of time and money .
Read more here .
—Ally Marotti Two Cook County judges , both assigned to the Bridgeview courthouse , have been diagnosed with COVID-19 , the Chief Judge ’ s office announced Thursday morning .
They are the first judges known to have confirmed infections .
A statement from the office did not say when the judges were most recently at the suburban courthouse .
The announcement comes as Cook County courts are considering how to phase in a reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to be entered Thursday by Chief Judge Timothy Evans will extend the courts ’ shutdown until July 6 or further notice .
—Megan Crepeau Roughly 2.1 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week , a sign that companies are still slashing jobs in the face of a deep recession even as more businesses reopen and rehire some laid-off employees .
About 41 million people have now applied for aid since the virus outbreak intensified in March , though not all of them are still unemployed .
The Labor Department ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the people now receiving unemployment aid : 21 million .
That is a rough measure of the number of unemployed Americans .
The national jobless rate was 14.7 % in April , the highest since the Great Depression , and many economists expect it will near 20 % in May .
Read more here .
—Associated Press 6:40 a.m. : Here ’ s what will be different Friday , when most of the state ( but not Chicago ) moves into phase three of Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s reopening plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poised to move into the next phase of Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s reopening plan Friday , which means many restaurants will be back open for outdoor service and “ nonessential ” retailers will be open to shoppers .
Except in Chicago , where Mayor Lori Lightfoot has said restrictions won ’ t be loosened until “ early June.
” The city ( and all cities and counties ) can enact tighter guidelines than the state , but not looser ones .
For the most part , Chicago ’ s guidelines are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening up a bit , don ’ t throw away those masks yet , they ’ ll continue to be required in public .
Read more here .
—Dan Petrella and Jamie Munks 6:30 a.m. : As non-COVID-19 patients return to Chicago-area emergency rooms , doctors see skyrocketing blood pressure and other side effects of delays in care .
‘ It ’ s terrible , and it ’ s frightening.
’ One patient ran out of medication during the COVID-19 pandemic and ended up in the Loyola University Medical Center emergency room with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unwilling or unable to get consistent treatment for chronic conditions during the pandemic , have come in with out-of-control asthma , mental health crises or inadequately treated chronic kidney failure .
After a lull in emergency room visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic , doctors at four Chicago emergency rooms told the Tribune they have seen an increase in non-COVID-19 patients in the past few weeks , along with signs that some patients are suffering because of pandemic-related delays in care .
Read more here .
—Nara Schoenberg 6:25 a.m. : Staffer at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests positive for COVID-19 A worker at the Springfield convention center where the Illinois House convened for a special session last week has tested positive for COVID-19 .
Jessica Basham , chief of staff for House Speaker Michael Madigan , shared the news in an email to lawmakers and staff Wednesday , noting that “ at this time it appears this individual had no interaction with any member or other staff person.
” Read more here .
—Jamie Munks Here are five things that happened Wednesday that you need to know : Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you need to know :

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Paca Kujtim of Arlington Heights self-administers a COVID-19 test in his car at the Arlington International Racecourse on March 31, 2021 in Arlington Heights. Kujtim was getting testing as a precaution for upcoming travel. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker confirms that all four regions of Illinois will move to the third phase of his five-phase reopening plan on Friday. The 28-day tracking period for all four regions will reset on Friday, meaning the earliest any region could move into the next phase is June 26, Pritzker said.
Additionally, Chicago will advance to the city’s next phase of reopening beginning on June 3 with retail, hotel and restaurant openings, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday.
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The opening of libraries and park buildings will happen on June 8, Lightfoot said. The mayor said she will have to see how things go with these initial steps before considering reopening the lakefront.
Also on Thursday, officials announced 1,527 new known cases of COVID-19 and 104 additional deaths. That pushes the statewide known case count to 115,833 total since the pandemic began. The statewide death toll now stands at 5,186.
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[ When can Illinois reopen? Check our daily charts on where each region stands. ]
[ How will Illinois reopen? Three charts breaking down Pritzker’s plan ]
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
[ As the coronavirus spreads, the Tribune is tracking Illinois cases here ]
Here’s what’s happening Thursday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
8:28 p.m.: U. of I. study says Illinois can expect more than half-million full-time job losses
Illinois will lose the equivalent of 550,000 yearlong full-time jobs due to the pandemic, with 40% of them concentrated in trade, transportation, leisure and hospitality services and the professional sector, according to a new study from the University of Illinois.
The study by the university system’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs also warned that more than $28.5 billion in income will be lost to Illinois citizens and businesses, along with $76 billion in economic output representing the value of goods and services produced due to stay-at-home and business closures.
The study’s authors said that in a slow reopening of the state’s economy, small changes in the critical economic component of household spending, such as non-food shopping or going to restaurants, could significantly impact a recovery.
The authors of the study note that the recession caused by the pandemic appears unlike previous economic-driven recessions, as Illinois’ economy is moving in concert with the entire country rather than lagging behind the rest of the nation.
“What cannot be forecast at this time is whether Illinois’ recovery will lag that of the U.S. or whether the historical divergence between Illinois and U.S. job growth will persist, widen or narrow,” said the authors, professors Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, Kenneth Kriz and David Merriman.
Illinois, they said, has a complex interactive economy, and interruptions in one sector have ripple effects that affect directly or indirectly other sectors. As a result, the authors projected 400,000 direct yearlong job losses from the pandemic and another 150,000 from a multiplier effect of indirect job losses for each direct job lost. Read more here. —Rick Pearson
7:33 p.m.: Facing multiple legal battles with churches, Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to lift 10-person limit on services in new stay-at-home order
Facing a barrage of legal challenges from churches, Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to remove a provision limiting the number of people who can attend in-person religious services when he signs a new version of his statewide stay-at-home order on Friday.
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The move comes as the state moves into phase three of Pritzker’s reopening plan, with a wider range of businesses opening their doors for the first time in more than two months. On Thursday, the Illinois Department of Public Health issued new guidelines for houses of worship, hours before the state responded to the U.S. Supreme Court in a lawsuit by two churches seeking to block Pritzker’s stay-at-home order.
Pritzker’s extended stay-at-home order, issued April 30 and set to expire after Friday, added religious services to the list of “essential” activities for which residents are permitted to leave their homes but mandated that they be limited to 10 or fewer people.
In its Supreme Court filing, the state argues that the churches’ request is moot because Pritzker “has announced that after that date religious gatherings will no longer be subject to mandatory restrictions.”
“Having received many plans and ideas from responsible faith leaders, IDPH has reviewed many detailed proposals and has provided guidance, not mandatory restrictions, for all faith leaders to use in their efforts to ensure the health and safety of their congregants,” Pritzker said Thursday at his daily press briefing.
That includes “suggestions” for capacity limits and limited indoor gatherings to 10 people or fewer, he said. Read more here. —Dan Petrella and Jamie Munks
7:05 p.m.: The state tried to test for COVID-19 in every nursing home. It’s now ordering homes to do it themselves.
Citing the devastating toll COVID-19 has taken in nursing homes, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday ordered all long-term facilities to figure out how to test residents and staff for the virus.
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The new emergency rule for the first time pushes the testing responsibility to the facilities themselves, and it signals the Pritzker administration’s most confrontational stance to date against an industry that increasingly had been pressuring the government to lead and expand testing efforts.
In announcing the rule, Pritzker told reporters that some privately run facilities had refused state help, forcing the state to impose rules “to counteract any heel-dragging” in efforts to stem the spread of a virus that’s already killed more than 2,400 residents and staffers, nearly half of Illinois’ total fatalities from the virus.
“Many facilities have been great partners, and they should be applauded,” he said. “But long-term care residents are some of our most vulnerable. That’s why strong compliance by many isn’t good enough.”
The new rule does not specify exactly when facilities must test residents and staff, only that a facility must do so if it’s experiencing an outbreak, or if state or local officials tell them to do so. Read more here. —Joe Mahr
6:05 p.m.: Sexual abuse against children could be going unreported during the pandemic, experts warn as calls to Illinois hotline plummet
Reports of sexual misconduct against Chicago Public Schools students -- as well as calls to the child abuse hotline operated by the state of Illinois – have both dropped dramatically since the coronavirus pandemic began.
And while the statewide shutdown of schools means there have been less opportunities for physical or sexual abuse against children, experts say vulnerable children could actually be at greater risk during the pandemic.
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That’s because teachers – who are required by law to report suspected child abuse – are no longer able to monitor their children’s well-being as closely. But child protection officials are asking teachers to remain vigilant. Read more here. —Hannah Leone
5:25 p.m.: Lightfoot backs Chicago’s bid to be one of the NHL’s playoff hubs — if the city meets safety protocols
Mayor Lori Lightfoot expressed optimism Thursday the United Center could host NHL playoff games if the league chooses Chicago as one of its two hub cities, but she emphasized games would have to be played without fans as the city tries to preserve a downward trend of coronavirus infections.
“All of these decisions are still in discussion at the league level,” Lightfoot told reporters. “My expectation is that in the first instance, yes, they will be playing (in) empty stadiums.”
The NHL already had indicated in its reopening plan that games will be played without fans. Each team’s personnel will be limited to 50 people in the hub city, and all but a few of them will be allowed in the arena.
On Tuesday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed the Blackhawks would be included in a 24-team playoff format — the No. 12 seed Hawks will face the fifth-seeded Edmonton Oilers — and he also revealed Chicago made a list of 10 finalists vying to become hub cities.
Two hub cities will host Eastern or Western Conference games.
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Lightfoot said Thursday, “I’m really enthusiastic about the possibility of getting hockey playoffs here in Chicago. As you know, we are a hockey city. We’re one of the original franchises in the league. Hockey is deeply engrained into the sports fabric of our city and I’m going to do everything I can to support the efforts of the Blackhawks and others to bring hockey playoff to Chicago.” Read more here. —Phil Thompson
4:01 p.m.: Trump extends National Guard deployments after outcry over benefits
President Donald Trump said Thursday he would extend federally covered National Guard deployments to deal with the coronavirus pandemic through mid-August amid an outcry that an earlier cutoff date would deny members access to benefits.
“The men and women of the National Guard have been doing a great job fighting the Coronavirus. This week, I will extend their Title 32 orders through mid-August, so they can continue to help states succeed in their response and recovery efforts,” the president tweeted.
The Title 32 designation means that the Guard’s activations are federal funded, saving the states from the cost of utilizing guard members. Trump’s previous extension of Guard deployment lasted until June 24—one day before thousands of members would have qualified for education and retirement benefits.
Administration critics questioned whether the original date was set intentionally in an effort to avoid awarding benefits, including access to the post-9/11 G.I Bill, that become available after 90 days of activation in a federal emergency.
“While today’s decision to extend the service of our men and women in the National Guard is a step in the right direction, it shouldn’t have taken this long or required public pressure,” said Democratic U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos of Moline.
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Bustos was among more than 70 members of Congress who sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mike Esper more than a week ago asking for an extension of Guard deployment.
“This pandemic has no end date, which is why we need these servicemen and women,” Bustos said of Trump’s latest extension. “They are vital to our response to COVID-19 and should be activated for the duration of the president’s emergency and disaster declarations.”
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois last week introduced legislation to mandate the deployment benefits in light of the situation Guard members faced.
“After four letters and a new bill, Trump finally got my message: The 40,000 National Guards troop responding to the COVID-19 pandemic deserve full benefits for putting themselves at risk to protect the rest of us,” she said. “I’m glad that, after repeatedly trying to nickel and dime our troops, he finally abandoned his cynical ploy to cut off the Title 32 authorization at 89 days to deny members of the National Guard access to federal benefits that require 90 days of service.”
The president’s deployment extension also came after 42 governors signed a letter to him requesting the continued Guard activation. The letter was signed by the bipartisan leaders of the National Governors Association and included the signature of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
“As states and territories move toward recovery and reopening, our National Guard will be critical in supporting operations such as testing, distribution of personal protective equipment, supply and food chain support, augmenting staff at nursing homes, and supporting warehouse operations,” the letter said.
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“Likewise, our National Guard are perfectly positioned to support the federally defined core state preparedness responsibilities outlined in your Guidelines for Opening Up America Again,” it said. —Rick Pearson
2:51 p.m.: 1,527 new known COVID-19 cases and 104 additional deaths as all four state regions set to move into phase 3 of reopening plan
Gov. J.B. Pritzker confirmed Thursday that all four regions of Illinois will move to the third phase of his five-phase reopening plan on Friday.
“And while it’s at least a few weeks off, I want to affirm that the three metrics that have brought us from phase two to phase three will be the same as those that will move us into phase four,” Pritzker said at his daily news briefing.
The 28-day tracking period for all four regions will reset on Friday, meaning the earliest any region could move into the next phase is June 26, Pritzker said.
To move to the next phase, the percentage of positive tests must remain below 20% and not increase by more than 10 percentage points for 14 days, hospital admissions for COVID-19 must remain flat for 28 days, and there must be enough available hospital and intensive-care beds and ventilators to handle a 14% surge in cases.
Pritzker, whose administration is facing a 7 p.m. deadline to respond in the U.S. Supreme Court in a lawsuit brought by a pair of churches challenging his stay-at-home order, also announced that guidelines will be released Thursday for houses of worship to resume services.
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The announcement came as officials reported 1,527 new cases of the coronavirus and 104 more fatalities, bringing the total of known cases to 115,833 and the death toll to 5,186 statewide since the start of the pandemic.
Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said 44% of those deaths are tied to long-term care facilities. —Dan Petrella
2:49 p.m.: llinois will lose the equivalent of 550,000 year-long full-time jobs due to the pandemic
llinois will lose the equivalent of 550,000 year-long full-time jobs due to the pandemic, with 40% of them concentrated in trade, transportation, leisure and hospitality services and the professional sector, according to a new study from the University of Illinois.
The study by the university system’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs also warned that more than $28.5 billion in income will be lost to Illinois citizens and businesses, along with $76 billion in economic output representing the value of goods and services produced due to stay-at-home and business closures.
The study’s authors said that in a slow reopening of the state’s economy, small changes in the critical economic component of household spending, such as non-food shopping or going to restaurants, could significantly impact a recovery.
The authors of the study note that the recession caused by the pandemic appears that unlike previous economic-driven recessions, as Illinois’ economy is moving in concert with the entire country rather than lagging behind the rest of the nation.
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“What cannot be forecast at this time is whether Illinois’ recovery will lag that of the U.S. or whether the historical divergence between Illinois and U.S. job growth will persist, widen or narrow,” said the authors, Professors Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, Kenneth Kriz and David Merriman.
Illinois, they said, has a complex interactive economy, and interruptions in one sector have ripple effects that affect directly or indirectly other sectors. As a result, the authors projected 400,000 direct year-long job losses from the pandemic and another 150,000 from a multiplier effect of indirect job losses for each direct job lost.
The study forecast a decline of nearly $52.6 billion in production in the service sector, representing a loss of $19.7 billion in income and more than 389,000 full-time jobs. The transportation, communications and pubic utilities sector will see a $14 billion loss in production, $4.2 billion in income and a decline of more than 65,000 jobs.
The study said the ripple effect in the state’s economy is evident in less vulnerable sectors. Construction output will fall $2.6 billion and income loss will be $1.3 billion while 26,450 jobs in the sector will be lost. Governments in Illinois will have more than 30,000 full-time job losses, the research found.
“Many of the unemployed will be able to garner relatively generous unemployment benefits due to recently enacted federal legislation” granting an additional $600 in weekly benefits through July, the authors said. “Despite this potentially mitigating factor, the hardship is undeniable and the macroeconomic repercussions are immense.”
The study said a significant influence on economic recovery will be the degree that employees feel comfortable returning to the workplace and how households view the risk of attending cultural and leisure activities.
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“These were not risks faced by households in the recovery from previous recessions, so they add an important layer of uncertainty to the current economic situation,” the study said. —Rick Pearson
1:22 p.m.: Lightfoot says Chicago will move to phase 3 of her reopening plan on June 3
Chicago will advance to the city’s next phase of reopening beginning on Wednesday, June 3, with retail, hotel and restaurant openings, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday.
The opening of libraries and park buildings will happen on June 8, Lightfoot said.
Lightfoot said she will have to see how things go with these initial steps before considering reopening the lakefront.
Lightfoot called on businesses to stagger start times for their workers to hold down crowding on trains and buses as people commute to work in greater numbers. Read more here. —John Byrne
12:57 p.m.: As Chicago moves to next phase of reopening, CTA says it will watch crowds and make announcements to keep riders apart
As Chicago enters the next phase of reopening during the pandemic, the CTA said it will use cameras to monitor crowds at stations and on trains and make announcements urging people to spread out or wait for the next train.
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The agency also plans to place decals on station floors “guiding riders on where to stand and how to keep distance,” according to a draft of guidelines posted Thursday ahead of phase three in the city, which will likely begin in early June and allow many offices, day care centers, retailers and gyms to open.
The CTA has remained open throughout the stay-at-home order, but overall ridership has been down 80-85% each day, according to agency spokesman Brain Steele.
He said officials do not know how much ridership will increase over the next weeks, but they are encouraging riders to use other forms of transportation for non-essential travel. For those who use the CTA, the agency is asking riders to continue taking precautions like social distancing, wearing masks, not boarding crowded trains and buses “and being mindful and respectful of fellow customers.” Read more here. —Sophie Sherry
12:29 p.m.: Cook County awards $8 million in animal shelter grants to city of Evanston, south suburban nonprofit
Two animal shelters in Cook County are getting a combined $8 million to expand their facilities and ensure there is no overcrowding.
South Suburban Humane Society, a nonprofit located in Chicago Heights, was awarded $6 million, while the city of Evanston was given $2 million, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced in a press conference Thursday. The grants are part of the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control’s “Housing Cook County’s Animals program” announced in November to help revamp nonprofit and government-run shelters that may face overcrowding as long as they agree to house rescue animals.
Preckwinkle said the grants will help ensure that no animal will be turned away at the shelters.
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“Over the last few decades, the way shelters care for our pets has evolved,” Preckwinkle said in a news conference. “Many of their facilities have not. … And they do not provide an optimal environment that helps them engage successfully with potential adopters.” Read more here. —Alice Yin
12:24 p.m.: Bosses say $600 coronavirus unemployment boost makes reopening harder. Some workers ‘are making more money than they’ve ever made by not working right now.’
About a month after suit maker Hart Schaffner & Marx furloughed its nearly 250 factory employees, the Des Plaines-based company called them all back to work, marshaling their talents to cut and sew face masks suddenly in high demand to protect against COVID-19.
But there was an unanticipated hurdle: many employees were making more money on unemployment insurance than they did working. While unemployment benefits usually pay a fraction of a person’s regular wages — 47% in Illinois, up to a cap — people laid off or furloughed amid government-mandated shutdowns are getting an additional $600 per week through July.
Three-quarters of the factory workers, whose jobs on average pay above $15 an hour, voiced concerns about letting go of the extra cash, said Ken Ragland, chief operating officer at W Diamond Group, which manufactures the Hart Schaffner & Marx brand. In a difficult conversation, he told their union that those who didn’t return to work within 72 hours would lose their jobs — and also lose their unemployment benefits — unless they had a legitimate reason to stay home, such as child care constraints. Read more here. —Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz
11 a.m.: Coronavirus tab for Chicago Public Schools now up to about $44 million
So far, Chicago Public Schools estimates about $44 million to address the pandemic, with about 20% of that spending beyond the district’s regular contract costs, Chief Operating Officer Arnie Rivera told the Board of Education Wednesday.
That includes an estimated $24.4 million on technology such as laptops, tablets and internet hotspots, with $4.4 million of that total coming from a $75 million emergency coronavirus authorization approved by the Board of Education in March.
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Other expenditures include $1.2 million for emergency cleaning and supplies such as soap and masks; $10.2 million for essential personnel; $3.4 million for educational materials for distance learning; and $4.9 million for nutrition and other costs, ranging from student meal delivery to reimbursement for canceled international trips. —Hannah Leone
10:50 a.m.: Ford temporarily shut downs Chicago Heights stamping plant Wednesday for COVID-19 cleaning, the fourth factory to face production disruption in less than two weeks
Ford Motor Co. temporarily paused production at its stamping plant in Chicago Heights Wednesday for sanitation after an employee at the facility tested positive for COVID-19.
The company closed production on one line at the stamping plant, the Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday evening. Ford notified workers known to have been in close contact with the infected individual and asked them to self-quarantine for 14 days, according to the Free Press.
It is the automaker’s fourth plant shutdown tied to the coronavirus since the firm resumed production last week.
The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker stopped production at its Kansas City Assembly Plant Tuesday. Last week, the company paused work at its Chicago Assembly Plant, which makes Lincoln Aviator, Ford Explorer and Police Interceptor SUVs, and its Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan after employees tested positive for COVID-19. Read more here. —Abdel Jimenez
10:46 a.m.: CVS opening hundreds more drive-thru testing locations
CVS Health on Friday plans to open another 24 COVID-19 drive-thru testing sites in Illinois, bringing the total number statewide to 40.
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Most of the new drive-up test sites are in the Chicago area. A list of CVS testing locations is available here.
All of these CVS pharmacy drive-thru sites use self-swab tests and patients must make an appointment first, the company said in a news release.
Patients should stay in their vehicles and will be directed to the pharmacy drive-thru window, where they will be provided with a test kit and instructions. A CVS employee will observe the self-swab process to make sure it’s done properly, the news release said. Tests will be sent to an independent lab and results are expected in about three days.
CVS Health said it’s establishing 1,000 test sites across the country, and more than half are in communities in need of the most support during disease outbreaks and other hazardous events, as defined by the social vulnerability index developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The index takes into account factors like poverty, lack of access to transportation and crowded housing, according to the CDC. —Angie Leventis Lourgos
10:22 a.m.: COVID-19 spurs union pushes among Chicago-area essential workers. ‘We’re not just burger flippers. We’ve been essential.’
Concerned about their safety on the job as the coronavirus pandemic continues, workers at Chicago-area grocery stores, marijuana dispensaries and other essential businesses are increasingly pushing to unionize.
Workers at Sunnyside dispensary in Lakeview have cast ballots, and Instacart employees at a nearby Jewel-Osco are also in the process of voting by mail on whether or not to unionize. Workers at the Dill Pickle Co-Op in Logan Square staged a demonstration asking the co-op to recognize their 13-member union, which has been certified by the National Labor Relations Board.
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The coronavirus outbreak has unleashed a flurry of unionization efforts in the Chicago area by workers who argue the pay increases and safety measures some employers have put in place don’t go far enough.
“A lot of these essential workers … are reaching out and saying, ‘I’m called a hero, I’m deemed essential. I look at my pay stub, I look at my benefits, I look at my workplace protections and there is a big mismatch,'" said Zach Koutsky, spokesman for Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which represents more than 34,000 grocery store, drugstore and food production workers in Illinois and northwest Indiana. Read more here. —Ally Marotti
10:02 a.m.: Illinois stores everywhere but Chicago can start reopening Friday. Here’s what to expect in phase 3.
Illinois retailers outside of Chicago that have been closed since mid-March are preparing to let customers back in stores starting Friday.
That doesn’t include stores in Chicago, which is not planning to loosen restrictions on retailers that are not considered essential until early June.
But the coronavirus pandemic means it won’t be business as usual. Here’s what to expect.
9:16 a.m.: Legal marijuana was supposed to help communities hurt by the war on drugs. But COVID-19 may crush efforts to diversify Illinois’ largely white weed industry.
Opening a marijuana business has never been easy.
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The industry is highly regulated. Weed is still illegal under federal law, which makes it harder for companies to land financing. And finding a site can be difficult and expensive because the rules on where a cannabis business can locate vary wildly from town to town.
To foster opportunities for entrepreneurs of color to break into an industry that has seen sales of about $147.5 million of recreational weed just in the first four months, the state’s recreational marijuana law laid out specific social equity rules. But now the COVID-19 pandemic could threaten some startups’ efforts to diversify the largely white-owned industry as they run out of time and money. Read more here. —Ally Marotti
9:02 a.m.: 2 Cook County judges diagnosed with COVID-19
Two Cook County judges, both assigned to the Bridgeview courthouse, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the Chief Judge’s office announced Thursday morning. They are the first judges known to have confirmed infections.
A statement from the office did not say when the judges were most recently at the suburban courthouse.
The announcement comes as Cook County courts are considering how to phase in a reopening as the pandemic continues. An order expected to be entered Thursday by Chief Judge Timothy Evans will extend the courts’ shutdown until July 6 or further notice. —Megan Crepeau
8:02 a.m.: Coronavirus economic toll mounts: 41 million have sought jobless aid
Roughly 2.1 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, a sign that companies are still slashing jobs in the face of a deep recession even as more businesses reopen and rehire some laid-off employees.
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About 41 million people have now applied for aid since the virus outbreak intensified in March, though not all of them are still unemployed. The Labor Department’s report Thursday includes a count of all the people now receiving unemployment aid: 21 million. That is a rough measure of the number of unemployed Americans.
The national jobless rate was 14.7% in April, the highest since the Great Depression, and many economists expect it will near 20% in May. Read more here. —Associated Press
6:40 a.m.: Here’s what will be different Friday, when most of the state (but not Chicago) moves into phase three of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan
All four regions of the state are poised to move into the next phase of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan Friday, which means many restaurants will be back open for outdoor service and “nonessential” retailers will be open to shoppers.
Except in Chicago, where Mayor Lori Lightfoot has said restrictions won’t be loosened until “early June.” The city (and all cities and counties) can enact tighter guidelines than the state, but not looser ones. For the most part, Chicago’s guidelines are similar.
While the state’s opening up a bit, don’t throw away those masks yet, they’ll continue to be required in public. Read more here. —Dan Petrella and Jamie Munks
6:30 a.m.: As non-COVID-19 patients return to Chicago-area emergency rooms, doctors see skyrocketing blood pressure and other side effects of delays in care. ‘It’s terrible, and it’s frightening.’
One patient ran out of medication during the COVID-19 pandemic and ended up in the Loyola University Medical Center emergency room with dangerously high blood pressure.
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Others, unwilling or unable to get consistent treatment for chronic conditions during the pandemic, have come in with out-of-control asthma, mental health crises or inadequately treated chronic kidney failure.
After a lull in emergency room visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors at four Chicago emergency rooms told the Tribune they have seen an increase in non-COVID-19 patients in the past few weeks, along with signs that some patients are suffering because of pandemic-related delays in care. Read more here. —Nara Schoenberg
6:25 a.m.: Staffer at Springfield convention center where state House met tests positive for COVID-19
A worker at the Springfield convention center where the Illinois House convened for a special session last week has tested positive for COVID-19.
Jessica Basham, chief of staff for House Speaker Michael Madigan, shared the news in an email to lawmakers and staff Wednesday, noting that “at this time it appears this individual had no interaction with any member or other staff person.” Read more here. —Jamie Munks
Breaking coronavirus news Stay up to date with the latest information on coronavirus with our breaking news alerts.
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chicagotribune--2020-05-31--Demonstrations turn violent Saturday as mayor enacts curfew

People ran in and out through the Neiman Marcus for over 30 minutes , taking boxes of items out of @ @ @ @ @ white SUV rolled up to the scene , and at least three masked people got @ @ @ @ @ came back out minutes later with items in hand .
Then the SUV sped off @ @ @ @ @ Others stood by and yelled out “ 12 !
12 !
12 !
” whenever @ @ @ @ @ .

Police officers guarding the Trump International Hotel & Tower hold back protesters in the Loop on May 30, 2020, during a rally and march to remember the May 25 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Protests with some moments of calm Saturday turned violent in Chicago as the day progressed.
Protesters initially held up signs calling for justice for George Floyd, among other things, and blared chants about bad cops. Floyd, 46, who was black, died on Memorial Day after video showed a white police officer in Minnesota kneeling on his neck despite Floyd’s repeated pleas for him to stop.
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But later on, some resorted to rioting, looting businesses and other civil unrest in downtown Chicago. At least three people were shot downtown Saturday evening.
Outer Lake Shore Drive was temporarily closed in both directions earlier Saturday, around 5 p.m. Motorists who were at a standstill due to the marching appeared to honk in support of the protesters who hoisted signs and chanted, “NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE! NO RACIST POLICE!”
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At one point, the scores of marchers staged a sit-in in the middle of the southbound lanes.
“WELCOME TO CHICAGO! WE DON’T DEAL WITH THAT S—-!” someone shouted.
[ Mayor imposes curfew after chaotic scenes unfold in Loop, North Side as protesters clash with police during demonstration over death of George Floyd in Minneapolis ]
After about 30 minutes, the protesters marched south on the Outer Drive onto North Michigan Avenue. This route swelled with more marchers from other parts of downtown. Marchers spray-painted the front of some posh shops and businesses along the Magnificent Mile.
Slogans like “F—- 12,” meant as an adversarial saying about police, and “EAT THE RICH” were scrawled on front windows.
Loud bells sounded at the Chicago River, as the city made the decision to lift the Michigan Avenue Bridge, preventing anyone from crossing in either direction. Down the street outside the Wrigley Building, scores of protesters faced off with police, who wore helmets and face shields.
“F—- DONALD TRUMP! F-— DONALD TRUMP!” someone shouted repeatedly.
Also outside the building, a WGN-Ch. 9 news van was vandalized with graffiti that read, “F—- 12.” A Chicago Department of Transportation van was also vandalized, its windshield smashed in with graffiti scrawled on the side that read, “ACAB,” short for “all cops are bastards.”
The crowd cheered as a group of marchers rocked the van in a failed effort to tip it over.
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Shortly afterward, a Chicago police marked SUV was on fire at Kinzie Street and Lower Michigan, near the Chicago River. Plumes of smoke engulfed Lower Michigan as cops stood guard in the area. Firefighters eventually put out the blaze.
At Hubbard and State streets, Chicago police engaged in a violent, heated exchange with marchers.
“F—- THE POLICE! F— THE POLICE!” they chanted.
“HANDS UP! DON’T SHOOT!” the group also chanted, a slogan that was popularized in the 2014 fatal shooting of Michael Brown, a black 18-year-old man whose killing by a white police officer sparked violent protests in Ferguson, Missouri.
The marchers at Hubbard and State threw bottles and rocks at the cops. The cops, who carried retractable batons and canisters of chemical spray, moved in on the crowd. Officers deployed spray on marchers.
At this point, at least three people could be seen being detained and escorted away from Hubbard and State by cops.
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Meanwhile, down the block, a group vandalized an unmarked police SUV, breaking windows, slashing its tires and grabbing belongings from it.
With its blue lights flashing, a group of about a dozen people pushed the damaged SUV on its side, prompting an eruption of cheers. Nobody appeared to be inside the SUV.
Shortly after, as the crowd moved south to Kinzie and Dearborn streets, a man tuned a broom to sweep away shards of glass and debris from the SUV.
Several businesses were broken into and ransacked. Government buildings, including the Cook County Administration Building at 69 W. Washington St., was vandalized with graffiti.
Along the Magnificent Mile, many stores were broken into and shelves were plucked bare. Groups of people moved from store to store, using hammers and two-by-four wood planks to break glass. Then people ran inside, taking as much as they could by the armful or in shopping bags.
Close up of the Zara damage. A guy standing outside with a bulldog on a leash told a girl to take a silver suitcase “it’s worth at least $500,” he said. #Chicago pic.twitter.com/aZmBZzvfb6 — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) May 31, 2020
People ran in and out through the Neiman Marcus for over 30 minutes, taking boxes of items out of a storage room. A white SUV rolled up to the scene, and at least three masked people got out, ran inside and came back out minutes later with items in hand. Then the SUV sped off east on Superior Street. Others stood by and yelled out “12! 12! 12!” whenever a squad car came close.
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As Mayor Lori Lightfoot imposed a 9 p.m. curfew for Chicago, the unrest continued. Several firework explosions sounded.
“If Lori said go home, then we gotta go home,” one man said laughing around 8:30 p.m. to a young woman who told him about the curfew.
Around 9 p.m., someone lit a green-and-red firework on Michigan Avenue.
Several storefronts had “George Floyd” written in spray paint across them, including Ann Taylor and Burberry. “1st Degree” was also painted in red on the Burberry door, and a handmade poster from the protest that read “Stop killing us” was placed out front.
“George Floyd” written outside of the Burberry store, which was also broken into. #Chicago pic.twitter.com/nMP2EI7kUI — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) May 31, 2020
“Who wears a medium?” said a young women walking north on Michigan Avenue with two others as they sorted through their stolen goods.
A group destroyed the storefront of T-Mobile as six officers stood across the street and watched. People began to scatter when more than a dozen squad cars came to the scene, but the officers were still slow to approach.
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Cops are finally approaching. #Chicago
I heard some pops in the distance after filming this. I assume it was fireworks, but I’m not sure. pic.twitter.com/kIoHCCQE9R — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) May 31, 2020
“Anyone hurt? Anyone need help? We’re medics,” said a man, carrying a bag of supplies, as he walked south on Michigan. “No, we’re good,” someone replied.
At least one man was killed in the downtown area during the violence.
A 26-year-old man was shot around 11 p.m. in the 100 block of West Hubbard Street in the River North neighborhood, police said. The man was walking on the sidewalk with another man when someone got out of a vehicle and approached them.
They argued until the man who got out of the vehicle took out a handgun and began hitting the 26-year-old with it, police said. The man then shot the 26-year-old man in the chest and continued to hit the other man with the gun.
The man got back into his vehicle and drove away, police said. The 26-year-old died at the scene. No arrests have been made.
Multiple people were also shot in separate shootings around Chicago police’s Central District, which covers a swath of the downtown area, in a short period of time.
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At 9:30 p.m., two men were shot near Jackson and State streets and taken to the University of Illinois Hospital in good condition, police said.
One young man was shot in the leg around 10:40 p.m. in an alley on East Monroe Street in between South Wabash Avenue and South Michigan Avenue. Several members of Chicago SWAT were attending to him and applied a tourniquet to his leg.
Two young women were with the man as blood pooled from his wound onto the pavement, but he was fully conscious and talking. The man’s bicycle laid nearby.
“He’s just shot in the leg,” one of the SWAT officers said to the women. “He’ll be fine.”
Saw this guy who was shot in the leg in an alley on my way back to the office after getting robbed. The pepper spray SWATs put a tourniquet on him. #ChicagoProtests #Chicago #GeorgeFloyd #ChicagoScanner @chicagotribune pic.twitter.com/Ogho15PTwX — Erin Hooley (@erinhooley) May 31, 2020
Around 11 p.m., a 19-year-old man was standing on the sidewalk in the 200 block of North Michigan Avenue when he was shot multiple times, police said. He self-transported to Stroger Hospital in critical condition.
Chicago Tribune photographer Erin Hooley contributed.
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jgorner@chicagotribune.com
pfry@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-31--Mayor imposes curfew after chaotic scenes unfold in Loop, Near North Side as protesters clash with p

Mayor imposes curfew after chaotic scenes unfold in Loop, Near North Side as protesters clash with police during demonstration over death of George Floyd in Minneapolis

“ To make sure the people who are murdered by cops have a voice and the best way that I @ @ @ @ @ is leverage my white privilege , and I think it ’ s important to protect @ @ @ @ @ their background or their behavior or where they grew up .
‘ ’

Jeremy Gorner, Madeline Buckley, Paige Fry

Police officers guarding the Trump International Hotel & Tower hold back protesters in the Loop on May 30, 2020, during a rally and march to remember the May 25 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
After intense skirmishes overnight, a Loop protest escalated with thousands of demonstrators marching, burning at least one flag, climbing onto a CTA bus and a light pole, hurling bottles, overturning police cars and surrounding officers on Saturday evening.
Chicago George Floyd protests Sunday updates: City cleans up, reduces access into downtown area as it braces for more unrest
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Meanwhile, Mayor Lori Lightfoot held a news conference shortly after 8 p.m., saying the demonstration had "evolved into criminal conduct'' as she imposed a curfew on the city: from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice.
Lightfoot said violators of the curfew will be given a chance to disperse and then they will be arrested. The order exempts essential workers.
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The mayor, who said she was "disgusted,'' said she had seen protesters use pipes, bats, hammers and other objects to damage property.
"I’m here to call you out for your recklessness,'' she said, directing her comments to some of the protesters.
“I’ve seen protesters hurl projectiles at our police department ... bottles of water, urine and Lord knows what else,’’ she said.
“I want to express my disappointment and, really, my total disgust at the number of others who came to today’s protests armed for all-out battle.”
Lightfoot singled out “the people who came armed with weapons,’’ calling them “criminals.“
“We can have zero tolerance for people who came prepared for a fight and tried to initiate and provoke our police department.’’
She ruled out calling in the National Guard.
Chicago police Superintendent David Brown was also on hand, saying officers had many things thrown at them, including molotov cocktails. "We will be taking you into custody when you destroy property'' or burn cars, Brown said. "That’s just facts.''
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“People are destroying property, meting out violence in the memory of a man who was unjustly killed, murdered by police officers,” he said.
At least one officer had "broken bones,'' and several others suffered less serious injuries, Brown said. He added several buildings had been vandalized, windows broken, and police responded with pepper spray and "arrests to prevent looting.''
In a statement late Friday, the FBI said they were ‘aware’ of the situation and was working with other law enforcement to ‘restore order’ to the community.
The crowd, which swelled to around 3,000, began their demonstration Saturday at Federal Plaza at 2 p.m. in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. Crowds of protesters then made their way onto Lake Shore Drive and shut down portions of the roadway.
As of 3:30 p.m., hundreds were marching north and became more and more raucous, even hostile, throwing fireworks, bottles and reportedly a liquid near officers. Some also began tagging buildings, cars and a bus shelter. There was at least one report of injuries to police, including a sergeant who had broken his arm near Trump Tower.
Protesters began cheering as several somehow hopped onto a No. 151 bus, carrying flags. The bus, which was halted, was occupied by a driver and did not appear to have many passengers.
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Bus is a 151 that looks like it is occupied by the driver but otherwise appears without passengers. pic.twitter.com/yVaww1vprq — Madeline Buckley is on furlough (@Mabuckley88) May 30, 2020
At one point, protesters gathered on three sides of a police vehicle that was backing up on Dearborn Street, and confrontations had broken out between officers and protesters as a police car tried to roll down Monroe Street in the Loop.
A police vehicle is reversing down Dearborn with protesters on 3 sides pic.twitter.com/3bvoOFSViA — Madeline Buckley is on furlough (@Mabuckley88) May 30, 2020
Later, police and protesters clashed just outside of Trump Tower when officers wearing helmets and carrying batons pushed protesters out of the way of a police vehicle.
Some confrontations have broken out by officers and police as police vehicles were trying to get down Monroe pic.twitter.com/6bchKj4g0v — Madeline Buckley is on furlough (@Mabuckley88) May 30, 2020
Deandre Washington, 27, gathered early at Federal Plaza before the protest officially began and said he was “mad as hell” when he saw the video that showed Floyd’s death. As a black man in Chicago, he fears being the victim of police violence on a daily basis.
“I worry every god damn day,” Washington said.
By 4 p.m., the crowd had broken up into several groups heading in different directions, including Trump Tower, where it became especially chaotic with some throwing bottles and fireworks at officers.
Along State Street going north, marchers chanted, “Black lives matter” and “I can’t breathe,” most of them donning masks and many hoisting signs that read, “DEFUND THE POLICE” and “JUSTICE FOR FLOYD.”
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People standing on the sidewalk who appeared not to be part of the protest apparently posed for pictures with the marchers in the background. Some passing vehicles honked their horns in apparent support of the protesters.
At one point, someone threw a drink at a police squad car.
Along the Magnificent Mile, a marcher could be seen later wearing a mobile stereo around his neck as the song “Fight the Power” by famed rap group Public Enemy blared from it. At the same time, church bells sounded from the Fourth Presbyterian Church.
Zach Daniels, 20, was marching late Saturday afternoon.
“I’m really tired of seeing racial injustice across our country,” said Daniels, who is a student at Moody Bible Institute.
As the march moved to East Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue, one person could be heard shouting, “Shut down Lake Shore Drive.”
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Shortly thereafter, the crowd began to enter the outer drive through a northbound entrance ramp.
“George Floyd! George Floyd!” they chanted.
A 27-year-old woman who identified herself as Lola was marching on southbound Lake Shore Drive as it was shutting down. She said she came out to “bring representation.’’
“To make sure the people who are murdered by cops have a voice and the best way that I know how to do that is leverage my white privilege, and I think it’s important to protect all black people no matter their background or their behavior or where they grew up. ‘’
By 5 p.m., officers had responded to at least a dozen calls of 10-1, a police emergency, as they worked to control the crowd, some reportedly trying to overturn a Chicago police car, others trying to hop onto another CTA bus and some fighting with officers.
Also as of that time, officials had closed the Ohio and Ontario feeder ramps going in and out of the downtown Chicago area.
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Additionally, ramps to the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) had been closed, and the CTA temporarily suspended Red Line service between the Clark/Division and Sox-35th stations.
A few minutes later, a loud "boom'' was heard, and officers flipped it back again and demonstrators moved closer to Kinzie and Dearborn, outside Harry Caray’s.
Outer Lake Shore Drive was temporarily closed in both directions around 5 p.m. Motorists who were at a standstill due to the marching appeared to honk in support of the protesters who hoisted signs and chanted, “NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE! NO RACIST POLICE!”
[ Demonstrations turn violent Saturday as mayor enacts curfew ]
At one point, the scores of marchers staged a sit-in in the middle of the southbound lanes.
Then, around 7:30 p.m. at Dearborn and Hubbard streets, a police vehicle was overturned.
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Squad car just got tipped over at Hubbard and Dearborn. pic.twitter.com/738bIgqYPF — Jeremy Gorner (@JeremyGorner) May 31, 2020
After about 30 minutes, the protesters marched south on the outer drive onto North Michigan Avenue. There, some marchers spray-painted the front of some posh shops and businesses along the Magnificent Mile.
Slogans like “F—- 12,” meant as an adversarial saying about police, and “EAT THE RICH” were scrawled on front windows.
Around 8 p.m., a demonstrator riding a horse could be seen in the same area.
Now there’s a guy on horseback at Dearborn and Hubbard. pic.twitter.com/IHy9BfXrQJ — Jeremy Gorner (@JeremyGorner) May 31, 2020
As the evening went on, loud bells rang out on the Chicago River, as the city made the decision to lift several bridges, including the Michigan Avenue bridge. No one could cross in either direction. At that point, protesters clashed with police in riot gear outside the Wrigley Building.
Multiple shootings occurred in the downtown area as the violence continued throughout the night into the early morning. At least one man was shot dead in the River North neighborhood Saturday night.
A 26-year-old man was shot around 11 p.m. in the 100 block of West Hubbard Street, police said. The man was walking on the sidewalk with another man when someone got out of a vehicle and approached them.
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They argued until the man who got out the vehicle took out a handgun and began hitting the 26-year-old with it, police said. The man then shot the 26-year-old man in the chest and continued to hit the other man with the gun.
The man got back into his vehicle and drove away, police said. The 26-year-old died at the scene. No arrests have been made.
Earlier, officials asked protesters in Chicago to remain peaceful as demonstrations were expected to continue throughout the weekend over the death of Floyd.
Speaking at a service event on the South Side on Saturday morning, Superintendent Brown and Lightfoot decried the actions of the officers in Minneapolis.
“I understand and I feel the pain and anguish the killing of George Floyd has evoked all over this country,” Lightfoot said.
She referenced the 2014 killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, calling it a “painful period we experienced as a city.”
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“We have lost too many people to violence in the city. It wasn’t just Laquan McDonald,” she said.
When asking protesters to stay peaceful, Lightfoot criticized President Donald Trump’s response to protests in Minneapolis, saying, “It’s not easy when we have a president who is inciting violence.”
“Let’s be better than him,” said Lightfoot, who also urged residents that COVID-19 “isn’t gone from Chicago” and that they should wear masks while protesting.
Earlier, Brown said there were about 108 arrests made in connection with the protests Friday and early Saturday.
Among those arrested was someone who faces pending gun charges.
“Many came to the downtown area in Chicago last night,” Brown said at the Saturday morning event. “The protesting early on started peacefully and ended more aggressive and intense.”
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Asked about whether there was looting Friday overnight downtown, where store windows were smashed, Brown said police hadn’t yet gone through inventory with store owners to see whether anything was missing. It remains under investigation.
Warning: Graphic content. Loop windows are smashed and protesters clash with police during demonstrations over the death of George Floyd. (Chicago Tribune Handout)
By the time the demonstrators dispersed from Chicago’s downtown area early Saturday, windows of several Loop businesses were broken, leaving shards of glass strewn on the streets and sidewalks. Garbage cans and flower pots were also toppled over.
About a dozen squad cars were damaged, and some officers were injured, including one with a broken wrist, Brown said.
Floyd, who was black, died Monday after Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, was captured on video pinning Floyd down by his neck.
The video footage went viral on social media, sparking national outrage that resulted in protests, rioting and looting in several cities. Minneapolis and St. Paul have seen fires set by protesters and major property damage.
A civil rights investigation was launched after the video surfaced, and Chauvin and three other officers were fired. On Friday, authorities announced that Chauvin had been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
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In the video, Floyd is lying facedown on the street and handcuffed, while Chauvin presses his knee into Floyd’s neck. And then, Floyd is heard on the video repeating, “I can’t breathe.”
Chicago Tribune reporter Deanese Williams-Harris contributed.


chicagotribune--2020-05-31--Watch live: Mayor Lori Lightfoot provides update on protests in Chicago after George Floyd’s death

Mayor Lightfoot provides an update on protests in Chicago after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
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