Chicago Tribune - 04 12 2020

2020·19.41 MB·English

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Questions? Call 1-800-Tribune Friday,December4,2020 Breaking news at chicagotribune.com
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
Optimism
builds for
relief bill
McConnell and Pelosi discuss
bipartisan plan for $908 billion
By Andrew Taylor MORE COVERAGE
Associated Press
Vaccine priorities
WASHINGTON— Optimism begin to take shape
about delivering long-sought
COVID-19 relief is building on States are drafting plans for who
Capitol Hill after additional gets the first doses of the vac-
rank-and-file lawmakers voiced cine when it becomes available
support for a bipartisan, middle- this month, as the nation’s death
of-the-road plan taking shape in toll surpassed 3,100 in a single
the Senate and as top congres- day for the first time.
sional leaders connected on the
■ British and American
topic for the first time in months.
officials spar over how
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,
Britain had beaten the U.S. to
D-Calif., and Senate Majority
authorizing a vaccine, a debate
Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
encompassing regulatory stand-
— frequent rivals but proven
ards and politics that has heated
dealmakers — spoke on the
up as wealthy countries vie for
phone Thursday, a conversation
the first shipments.
that came the day after Pelosi
signaled a willingness to make ■ Three former presidents say
major concessions in search of a they’d be willing to take a vac-
COVID-19 rescue package in the cine publicly to encourage all
$1 trillion range. Americans to get inoculated.
Pelosi’s spokesman an-
Nation & World, Page 10
nounced the conversation,
tweeting that it was “about their
shared commitment to complet-
ing an omnibus and COVID tum for finally passing a second
relief as soon as possible.” major relief bill is undeniably
“We had a good conversation. building, especially after Presi-
Ithink we’re both interested in dent-elect Joe Biden and top
getting an outcome, both on the congressional Democrats en-
omnibus and on a coronavirus dorsed a $908 billion bipartisan
package,” McConnell said. framework to build an agree-
With COVID-19 caseloads ment.
CHRIS SWEDA/CHICAGO TRIBUNE spiraling and the daily death toll
Light up the night equaling records, the momen- TurntoVirus,Page9
Ben Kozak, 2, takes in the scene of arches adorned with holiday lights over a sidewalk in the
4100 block of North Francisco Avenue in Albany Park on Wednesday.
Designer
puppies,
private jets AL DRAGO/THE NEW YORK TIMES
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, third from left, speaks to reporters as
she walks to her office at the Capitol on Thursday.
and a villa
Chicago rappers In race for vaccine,
charged in Mass. in
tangled fraud plot
pregnant left behind
By Jason Meisner
NINETEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT
In an image from livestream video, attorney Mark Richards, right,
Chicago drill rapper G Guidance fuzzy for those with child or weighing
appears with Kyle Rittenhouse during a hearing on Thursday.
Herbo grew up on the South-
prospect because trials exclude pregnancy
Rittenhouse lawyer east Side in an area dubbed
“Terror Town,” a far cry from
the world of private jets, By Alison Bowen something that has frustrated
quits criminal case tropical villas and designer Dr. Emily Miller for years. Miller
puppies. Hospital workers are under an is the assistant professor in the
His youth, as described in immense amount of stress this Division of Maternal-Fetal Med-
his blunt lyrics, was spent year. But help might be on the icine at Northwestern Medi-
Fundraising bid called ‘opportunity for ... fraud’ dodging bullets and hanging way soon as a federal advisory cine’s Feinberg School of Medi-
out on the violent streets committee recommended Tues- cine, where she has been closely
By Stacy St. Clair third during summer protests in near 79th Street and Essex daythat they be first in line for following the lack of data on
and Dan Hinkel Kenosha. He also has been an Avenue. But as his star rose vaccines. pregnant women and new vac-
enthusiastic fundraiser, helping with collaborations with the But what if they are pregnant? cines.
KENOSHA, Wis. – An attor- to secure $2 million for his likes of Nicki Minaj and Like all pregnant women, “As it turns out, pregnant
ney for Kyle Rittenhouse indi- client’s bail. Chief Keef and money rolled health care workers will be women can be doctors and
cated Thursday that he’d pull Prosecutors, however, have in, Herbo, whose real name is operating without much data, as nurses and respiratory thera-
back from the teen’s criminal grown increasingly critical of Herbert Wright III, said he pregnant women have been ex- pists,” she said. “This is putting
defense, hours after prosecutors Pierce’s frequent out-of-court started to realize it was time cluded from clinical trials so far. our pregnant health care work-
in Wisconsin sought to block statements and fundraising ef- to move on from his past and Pregnant women are com-
him from participating and al- forts, which have been aimed at embrace his newfound fame. monly excluded from research, TurntoVaccine,Page2
leged in a court filing that his the political right. “Honestly I’m just trying
involvement with a fundraising In a motion filed Thursday to capitalize and build other
effort “provides ample opportu- morning, Kenosha County As- people up,” Wright told the
nity for self-dealing and fraud.” sistant District Attorney Thom- Tribune in an interview last
Los Angeles civil lawyer John as Binger cited public records year. “I’m a firm believer that Tom Skilling’s forecast High 43 Low 28
M. Pierce has been the public and news reports as he alleged life is what you make it. … I
face of the 17-year-old’s defense that Pierce has “significant per- been broke so many times. I Chicago Weather Center: Complete forecast on back page of A+E
against a murder charge and sonal financial difficulties” and was supposed to be dead. I
other counts in the three argued that he should not be was supposed to be in jail.
$2.50 city and suburbs, $3.00 elsewhere
months since the teen fatally
shot two men and wounded a TurntoKenosha,Page8 TurntoRappers,Page8 173rd year No.339©Chicago Tribune
2
Chicago Tribune | Section1 | Friday,December4,2020
Vaccine
The statement noted plans to bring up the topic data on the safety of the
that with mRNA vaccines, on a call this Friday with vaccine in pregnant and
likely to be the first avail- the collaborative. lactating individuals be-
Continued fromPage1 able and which induce an Lactating women also cause they were excluded.”
immune response, the have been left out of clinical Zahn said patients
ers in a place where they theoretical risk of fetal trials, even though, as the should consider any avail-
haven’t been given a lot of harm is very low. Society for Maternal-Fetal able data, patients’ individ-
concrete guidance because Miller acknowledged Medicine’s statement ual risk factors and their
they’ve been systematically that people have “lingering noted, “there is no biolog- “unique needs, desires and
excluded.” questions” about ical plausibility for the ex- values.”
This essentially results in COVID-19 and the new clusion of lactating wom- The CDC’s general
“clinical experimentation vaccines. en.” guidelines for vaccinating
on pregnant women, as “It has to be balanced Miller said this high- pregnant women, which
vaccines are distributed against the risk of not get- lights that women deserve were last updated in 2016,
and administered without ting the vaccine, which is more information. notes that the benefits, in
the safeguards of research the risk of acquisition of “We need to be shifting general, “usually outweigh
in place,” according to a (COVID-19), which has our mindset from this potential risks when the
Society for Maternal-Fetal concrete and well-docu- mantra of we need to pro- likelihood of disease expo-
Medicine statement re- mented risks,” she said. tect pregnant women from sure is high.”
leased Tuesday.Miller is a “Through that lens, if we participating in trials, and Already, OB-GYNs
member of the task force. can remember that there is instead shift it to we need to strongly encourage, for ex-
In a conference call on no zero-risk option, then protect pregnant women ample, a flu vaccine, as
vaccine progress Thursday the balance at this point from being excluded from pregnant women are simi-
morning with the Infec- favors receiving the vac- these trials,” she said. larly more prone to getting
tious Diseases Society of cine.” Miller said she will be sicker from the flu, because
America, Dr. Kathleen The society criticized watching closely to see if of changes in the immune
Neuzil, co-director of the the lack of available data the Centers for Disease system, heart and lungs
National Institutes of and noted that if multiple Control and Prevention’s during pregnancy.
Health’sCOVID-19 Preven- vaccines become available, Advisory Committee on The Illinois Department
tion Network, acknowl- “some vaccines may be Immunization Practicesof- of Public Health has long
edged pregnant women more suitable for pregnant fers any pregnancy-specific emphasized the impor-
should be included in vac- women.” guidance. She also expects tance of health care pro-
cine research. As much as the limited that, out of the many people viders’ advice to pregnant
“We know that women data frustrates Miller, she involved in trials, some will women, noting that women
of childbearing age make emphasized that if women become pregnant after tak- who received a recom-
up a large proportion of are pregnant, or become ing the vaccine. mendation for a flu vaccine
health care workers, make pregnant, and contract Patients should discuss and an offer of vaccination
up a large proportion of COVID-19, they are at risk options with their OB- were six times more likely
front-line responders,” she of getting very sick. GYNs. to be vaccinated, compared
said. “So we really don’t “That’s super worri- “There isn’t a simple with women who did not
have a vaccine for everyone, some,” she said. answer to questions about receive a recommendation
THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE’S
until we have a vaccine for Women considering be- whether pregnant people, or an offer of vaccination.
HOLIDAY COOKIES BOOK pregnant women.” coming pregnant will simi- or those considering preg- Miller hopes women feel
The Society for Mater- larly have no available in- nancy, should take the empowered by discussing
“Holiday Cookies: Prize-Winning Family Recipes from nal-Fetal Medicine state- formation on pregnancy af- COVID-19 vaccine, espe- this issue with their pro-
the Chicago Tribune for Cookies, Bars, Brownies and ment recommended that ter getting the vaccine. cially since no vaccine is vider.
More.”A comprehensive collection of the best holiday health care workers be of- Dr. Ann Borders, an OB- currently approved,” Chris- “Getting COVID-19 in
cookies as curated from decades worth of reader sub- fered the vaccine if preg- GYN and executive direc- topher Zahn, the vice presi- pregnancy is incredibly se-
missions to the Chicago Tribune’s annual Holiday Cookie nant. tor of the Illinois Perinatal dent of practice activities of rious,” she said. “Let’s em-
Contest, these delicious recipes represent an eclectic In general, for pregnant Quality Collaborative, said the American College of power you to do everything,
mix of traditional and modern recipes from diverse cul- women, the group recom- she expects vaccination Obstetricians and Gynecol- to use every tool in the
tural background and skill levels. From cookie classics to mended access to will be recommended for ogists, said in a statement. toolbox to stay safe.”
twists on old standards, such as Tropical Nuevo Latino COVID-19 vaccines in all women considering preg- “When the vaccines do
Cookies and Grandma Grump’s Peanut Butter Drizzles, phases of future vaccine nancy, as they are entering a become widely available, abowen@chicago
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Chicago Tribune | Section1 | Friday,December4,2020
CHICAGOLAND
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
Seven-day toll is highest in nation
State has seen 957 cases of COVID-19, raising
the statewide total to
deaths in last week
759,562 known and prob-
able cases throughout the
By Jamie Munks course of the pandemic. The
state is also reporting a
Illinois has recorded death toll of 12,830.
more COVID-19 deaths The daily cases reported
than any other state over the Thursday came out of a
last seven days, and the batch of 106,778 tests, and
seven-day average of the seven-day positivity rate
COVID-19 deaths in Illinois for cases as a share of total
climbed to a new high of 124 tests was 10.4%.
on Thursday. The Illinois Department
The state has recorded of Public Health cautioned
957 deaths over the last this week that some data
seven days, far more than reported midweek was de-
Texas, which had 806 fatali- layed from over the holiday
ties over the same period, weekend.
according to the federal As of Wednesday night,
Centers for Disease Control 5,653 people were in the
and Prevention. hospital with COVID-19,
The state’s seven-day av- with 1,170 in intensive care
erage death toll surpassed units and 693 on ventilators.
the spring peak of 118, as Ezike on Thursday also
state public health officials addressed the CDC’s adjust-
reported an additional 192 ment to the recommended
COVID-19 deaths. That quarantine period for peo-
number matches a record ple who have been exposed
that was shattered a day to someone with COVID-19.
earlier, when 238 deaths The quarantine was re-
were recorded. duced to 10 days from 14, “as
The bleak reports come long as the individual does
as the state readies for the not have any symptoms at
mass distribution of a co- all,” she said.
ronavirus vaccine that still ANTONIO PEREZ/CHICAGO TRIBUNE “This does not mean the
has to receive federal ap- Registered nurse Guadalupe Duran talks with a person before giving a free COVID-19 test at a testing site last month. person can’t develop symp-
proval. toms on day 12 or 13, but we
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on That won’t be enough to you’re going to have people of those will be in that next “As the FDA rolls out know from looking at all the
Thursday said the state ex- inoculate the top priority over 65, people with multi- tier,” Ezike said. their recommendation, we data that the risk of that
pects a first shipment of groups, hospital-related ple serious co-morbid con- It’s unclear whether the will get to know more about happening is between 1 and
109,000 doses of the vaccine workers and residents of ditions that we know the vaccines that are up for who it can be given to, from 10%,” Ezike said. “Alterna-
between Dec. 13 and 19, “and long-term care facilities. Illi- virus preys upon and people federal approval will be able the lower age limit to is tively, a person can discon-
then there will be hundreds nois Department of Public who form the critical infra- to be administered to chil- there an upper age limit, so tinue quarantine at seven
of thousands of others that Health Director Dr. Ngozi structure of our society that dren if they are indeed those are pieces of informa- days if they have no symp-
might come, assuming that Ezike said the state is still allow us to live life as we approved, because the ma- tion still yet to be finalized,” toms and they have a nega-
there is approval of both of awaiting final word on who know it — that help us to jority of the people who Ezike said. tive test in the preceding 48
those vaccines, Pfizer and comes next. have food in the grocery participated in the trials The state on Thursday hours.”
Moderna, before the end of “But what we think is stores and make sure that were over the age of 18, also reported 10,959 newly
the year.” going to come out is that sanitation is picked up — all Ezike said. confirmed and probable [email protected]
County health department investigating
Make her day
large wedding held at Northbrook hotel
merry and
Occurred day state on the same day Illinois planners, rather than the rooms and public spaces, a
bright.
public health officials re- individuals at the wedding. requirement of face cov-
marked highest
ported 9,757 new confirmed “They should know the erings in all indoor public
number of deaths and probable COVID-19 rules,” she said of the facility areas and “a higher stand-
cases and 238 COVID-19 hosting the event. ard” to host events.
By Kaitlin Edquist deaths, the most deaths in a The notice will most “This incident is not rep-
single day since the pan- likely not result in a fine resentative of our portfolio
Health officials are inves- demic began. initially, but the hotel will be of hotels and the extraordi-
tigating a large, mostly “It’s very irresponsible watched carefully moving nary levels of hospitality
maskless gathering held at and it’s also irresponsible of forward to see if more offered by our hard-work-
the Hilton Chicago/North- the hotel to host an event instances of violation occur. ing team members every
brook Hotel Wednesday like that. They, too, have Ahealth department senior day,” corporate office offi-
night — the same day Illi- breached the rules and they inspector was at the hotel cials said in a statement.
nois passed a grim should be held responsible,” Thursday to examine the The hotel, 2855 Milwau-
COVID-19 milestone. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said rest of the hotel’s operations kee Ave., has a Northbrook
Photos and videos of the Thursday at his coronavirus and management, Rubin address and ZIP code, but it
event first reported by CBS briefing in Chicago, in re- said. falls under the jurisdiction
2show crowded rooms full sponse to a question about Rubin said she views the of nearby Prospect Heights,
of people hugging, eating, the wedding being held in wedding as a “potential according to Prospect
drinking and talking in violation of the state’s gath- super-spreader” event. Heights City Administrator
close proximity, the vast ering limits aimed at curb- To the health depart- Joe Wade.
majority of whom were not ing the spread of co- ment’s knowledge, no one at Wade said the event was
wearing masks. The event ronavirus. the wedding had a positive not initially reported to lo-
was a wedding with about Pritzker said he’s con- confirmed case, but with a cal police at the time but
150 guests in attendance, cerned for the people who large percentage of asymp- they are now following up
according to hotel officials. attended the wedding and tomatic infections and high with further investigation
Dr. Rachel Rubin, senior the people they may go on community spread, Rubin and a violation notice of
Horizon Pendant with Pavé Diamonds
medical officer and co-lead to infect, as COVID-19 runs said they expect some of the their own.
in 14K Yellow or White Gold
for the Cook County De- “rampant” throughout the attendees to have been pos- Regarding the wedding’s
partment of Public Health state. itive without knowing. impact on his city, Wade from $1,299
said during a news confer- “Here we have people She recommended that said he continues to urge
ence Thursday that she felt who are in a concentrated everyone at the wedding, residents to maintain safe Chainincluded
“profound dismay” after fashion, have the ability including servers and plan- practices and avoid large
hearing about the wedding. now to go spread it to ners, as well as those who gatherings. He encouraged
“This event should not everywhere that they re- were at the hotel unrelated residents to watch for any
have happened,” she said. turn to, so I’m deeply wor- to the wedding, should symptoms in the coming
“It’s put a lot of individuals ried for them and for the quarantine for 14 days. weeks.
in danger.” communities that they re- The health department “Be careful, and try to be
The hotel released a turn to, for their families, will request a guest list from thoughtful,” he said. “Be
statement Thursday eve- and so on,” he said. “I hope the wedding party, Rubin safe with each other.” WoodfieldMall
ning apologizing for hosting that each of them will iso- said. They will either reach The Illinois Hotel and LowerLevelnearStarbucks,847-995-0594
the wedding.General man- late and get a test.” out to the individuals di- Lodging Association, which
NaHoku.com
ager Holly Allgauer-Cir said County officials said they rectly or communicate represents hotels across the
the pandemic has created are now investigating. Ac- through the wedding party state, issued a statement in
challenges for the hospital- cording to the health de- that those in attendance response to the Hilton Chi-
ity industry but that their partment, violations of the should quarantine. She said cago/Northbrook Hotel’s BRING
hope “to keep the hotel state order banning indoor the department will not decision to host the event,
afloat and employees work- dining and other indoor contact trace unless some- calling it unacceptable.
ing should not outweigh congregations such as this one tests positive, but if “When I found out about
health and safety.” could lead to arrest, a fine of someone does test positive, this situation, I sub-
“While the event was $1,000 per offense and fur- they would then be able to sequently contacted public
booked prior to the imple- ther actions. reference the guest list or health officials to determine
mentation of the state’s lat- Rubin and fellow senior the event to find close the appropriate next steps
est mitigation measures, we medical officer and co-lead contacts. and reminded hotel man-
sincerely regret allowing Dr. Kiran Joshi released a Hilton corporate officials agement that they must
this gathering to proceed joint statement prior to a said the Northbrook loca- abide by the Tier 3 miti-
and our family apologizes to news conference to high- tion is independently gations and safety protocols
our guests, employees, and light the gravity of the owned and operated, and to ensure the health of their
HOME.
the Chicagoland communi- situation, according to de- they have connected with employees and guests,” said
ty,” Holly Allgauer-Cir said. partment officials. the hotel’s ownership to Michael Jacobson, the or-
She said the hotel will “We are appalled that address expectations with ganization’s president and
work with local and state this event was allowed to them. CEO, in a statement. “In
health authorities to abide proceed,” they said in the “We were shocked to addition, we have reached
SM
by all guidelines moving joint statement. “We are learn that one of our inde- out to our hotel member-
forward, as well as contact considering citing the hotel pendently owned and op- ship across the state to once
tracing and testing recom- and are investigating our erated hotels chose to host again stress the importance YourGoodwill®purchasesfundjobtraining
mendations. legal options today.” an event that disregarded of abiding by all health and andmoreinyourcommunity.Eventhose
“It will take time, but we According to Rubin, offi- both local regulations and safety guidelines.” framesthatshowoffyourtwinpugs.
hope to rebuild the trust of cials are still discussing le- Hilton’s brand standards,”
our guests, staff and com- gal options, but notices of corporate officials said in a Tribune reporter Jamie
munity have placed in us for violation would be issued to statement. Munks contributed.
so many years,” she said in the hotel and other possible The Hilton website em-
the statement. organizations involved, phasizes a “clean stay,” with kedquist@chicago
The wedding occurred such as caterers or wedding frequent disinfection of tribune.com
4
Chicago Tribune | Section1 | Friday,December4,2020
Family of teacher killed following Lightfoot says
she has ‘great
’19 party ‘frustrated’ at pace of case
interest’ in
By Mike Nolan ComEd case
Ayear after the death of a teacher from
an Orland Park Catholic elementary By Gregory Pratt
school, her family says they remain
frustrated over the slow progress in the Citing her experience as a federal
criminal case against a retired priest prosecutor, Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thurs-
charged in connection with her death. day said she’s been following the ComEd
Shortly after 8 p.m. Dec. 4, 2019, bribery case that’s cast a shadow over
Margaret “Rone” Leja and Elizabeth Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan
Kosteck, who both worked at St. Michael but stopped short of saying he shouldn’t be
School, were walking to their cars after reelected to his leadership post.
leaving a holiday party when they were Lightfoot said she’s watched “with great
struck by a car police said was driven by interest the number of people who’ve stood
Paul Burak, who had retired in 2018 as up and said they will not vote for Mike
pastor of St. Michael Catholic Church. Madigan as speaker of the House” and said
Leja and Kosteck were taken to Silver he doesn’t seem to have enough votes to get
Cross Hospital in New Lenox and Leja, 61, reelected at this time.
of Tinley Park, died from her injuries that Lightfoot added that she’s also “watched
night while Kosteck was injured. with great interest the number of people
Burak has been charged with leaving the ZBIGNIEW BZDAK/CHICAGO TRIBUNE who’ve been silent and who haven’t stood
scene of an accident involving death and Pallbearers bring Margaret “Rone” Leja’s casketin Orland Park on Dec. 10, 2019. up.”
leaving the scene of an accident involving She did not address, however, whether
injury. Leja’s family also has filed a Square mall, shortly be- were insufficient to support that charge.” Madigan should be reelected as speaker,
wrongful-death lawsuit against him. fore Burak, according to If convicted of the most serious charge saying she would have more to say about the
Leja’s family members “remain frus- authorities. of leaving the scene of an accident situation at a later time while expounding
trated by the delay in the criminal Burak assured other involving death, Burak could face a prison on the need for residents to have faith in
prosecution of this case and the continued partygoers that he was sentence of between four and 15 years, their elected officials.
failure” of Burak “to follow the teachings OK to drive home after according to the state’s attorney’s office. “Our democracy depends upon the
of the Catholic Church and confess what they expressed concern, Grace said Burak has not had to make people believing in leadership, the people
he has done,” according to a statement according to Cook any physical appearances in court due to believing that the leaders stand for them,
released Thursday by the family’s attorney. County prosecutors. his age and COVID-19 concerns. Asked that we are working hard every single day
Leja
The pace of the criminal case is due in Burak told investigators about Burak’s physical and emotional on behalf of the people and not on behalf of
part to the COVID-19 pandemic which has he had consumed two condition, Grace described them as “fair” ourselves,” she said.
slowed court proceedings throughout the alcoholic drinks at the and “about as best as can be expected.” “That doesn’t happen when there is a
county court system, said Timothy Grace, party. “He still feels horrible about this,” Grace cloud that hangs, that doesn’t happen when
Burak’s attorney. After striking the said. people feel like elected officials have been
“We’re waiting for the courts to open women, according to Several months ago, Burak moved from completely compromised and have an
back up,” he said. authorities, he drove his his Palos Heights home to the Bishop agenda that has nothing to do with doing
The 74-year-old Burak has pleaded not Buick Regal down an Timothy Lyne Residence, operated by the the people’s business,” she said.
guilty to charges. He was initially charged access road and pulled Archdiocese of Chicago on the grounds of Even though Lightfoot ran as a reform
with aggravated driving under the influ- into the drive-through Holy Family Villa in Palos Park. candidate and is a former federal prose-
ence, but that charge was later dropped. Kosteck lane of a restaurant, but Leja’s family filed a wrongful-death cutor, she has been reluctant to take on
Grace said the case remains in the did not order anything, lawsuit against Burak a few weeks after Madigan directly even as the ComEd probe
discovery phase with no trial date yet set. A before returning a short time later to the her death, and Kosteck has also sued has cut into his close political circle. There
status hearing has been scheduled for Jan. parking lot of the Square Celt. Burak. is a practicality to the mayor’s hesitation:
12 but he said that no major update is At that point, police officers, paramedics Leja’s complaint was later amended to the speaker’s reputation for political retri-
expected at that time. and other emergency personnel were on include the Archdiocese of Chicago as a bution has been decades in the making, and
Following his arrest a day after the scene, but Burak did not tell anyone he had defendant. if he were to hang onto control of the
incident, attorneys for Burak said the hit the women, authorities said. He was Cook County Circuit Court Judge Me- chamber, any criticism from Lightfoot
retired priest takes medication for glau- driven home by another St. Michael priest. lissa Durkin last month denied a request by could imperil the city’s legislative agenda.
coma and Parkinson’s. At the time charges Burak initially told investigators he the Archdiocese to dismiss the case, and And she made clear Thursday she wasn’t
were announced, three days after the didn’t know he had hit anyone and gave them until Dec. 15 to file a response to just talking about the embattled speaker.
crash, police said that health issues were believed he had struck a parking block as the lawsuit. “That’s not just a statement about Mike
not a factor and declined to address how it he was trying to leave Square Celt. Before getting her teaching degree and Madigan, it’s a statement about all of us,”
was determined Burak was under the Leja’s family learned in Januarythat the making a career change in her 40s, Leja she said.
influence at the time of the incident. DUI charge had been dropped. In their had a long career as a forensic analyst and So far, 19 rank-and-file Democrats have
Leja had worked for 1½ years as a wrongful death complaint, they allege that worked for the Cook County medical publicly opposed Madigangetting another
technology coach at St. Michael and Burak was impaired when he got into his examiner’s office, according to a 2005 term as Illinois House speaker. While the
previously taught at Mount Assisi Acade- vehicle. Chicago Tribune profile. nation’s longest-serving state House
my in Lemont, Marian Catholic High While the Cook County state’s attor- Burak, ordained in 1972, came to St. speaker is short of the 60 votes he needs to
School in Chicago Heights and Crete- ney’s office had initially approved the DUI Michael’s in July 2009 after serving as retain the speakership, he vowed last month
Monee High School in Crete. charge, it later said that following “a pastor of Our Lady of the Ridge Church in to remain a candidate, saying he has
Leja and Kosteck, a third grade teacher, thorough review of the case, we did not Chicago Ridge for 17 years. “significant support.”
had left a holiday party for school staff at seek an indictment for the offense of
Square Celt Ale House & Grill, near Orland aggravated DUI as the evidence and facts [email protected] [email protected]
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Chicago Tribune | Section1 | Friday,December4,2020
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Chicago Tribune | Section1 | Friday,December4,2020
D125 makes plans for hybrid instruction
Model features a combo of in-person, struction thus far this aca- The balance of the time, the clude at 3:25 p.m. A 90- Officials said the hybrid
demic year. students would participate minute break in the middle model is aimed at offering a
remote learning beginning in January
For the first two weeks of in their same classes virtu- of the day, from 10:55 a.m. flexible schedule that could
the second semester, or ally. until 12:15 p.m., would allow gradually accommodate
By Bob Goldsborough board meeting, district staff from Jan. 5 until Jan. 18, all No students would at- for students to eat lunch at students whose families
presented board members Stevenson students are tend classes in-person on home and for students to might not be comfortable
Adlai E. Stevenson High with a first look at the scheduled to attend classes Wednesdays, which would travel to or from the build- with their children attend-
School District 125 is mov- district’s plan to resume remotely only. Then, start- be reserved for all-remote ing if a student’s group has ing in-person school at the
ing forward with plans to some in-person schooling, ing Jan. 19, students would learning as well as deep in-person class for part of outset, but who perhaps
bring students back into the starting with the second be placed in one of three cleaning of the school that school day. During that would become more com-
building for classes through semester. Due to the groups. building, according to the break, curricular meetings fortable later in the se-
ahybrid model that would COVID-19 pandemic, Over a three-week pe- district’s plan. held by faculty members mester, particularly if a
include a combination of Stevenson High School — riod, students in each group Under the hybrid sched- also would take place two COVID-19 vaccine becomes
in-person and online in- the lone school in the Lin- would have the option to ule, school would start ear- days a week from 11 a.m. widely available.
struction stWarting Jan. 19. colnshiAre-based district —Nattend class in-pTerson on lier thanE it currently does, atDuntil 11:30 a.m., according to “We wanted to maximize
At the Nov. 16 school has done all-remote in- eight predefined half days. 7:45 a.m., and would con- the district’s plan. the number of days that a
student could choose to be
on campus. And I think
choose is the appropriate
word here,” Principal Troy
Gobble told the board. “And
most importantly for me,
when I consider the senior
students right now, I know
that many seniors, who
might not feel comfortable,
for whatever reason, com-
ing back at this point are
going to want to come back
to the building at some
Miracle-Ear Hearing Centers are looking for qualified people to test
point before the school year
is over.”
their latest product,The Miracle-Ear® Genius for FREE*! Groups of parents and
students demonstrated in
October calling for families
Here’s the catch:You must have difficulty hearing and understanding to have a choice for how
students get instruction
in background noise,and your hearing must fall in the range of the during the pandemic. Many
parents called for a hybrid
hearing aid.People that are selected will evaluate Miracle-Ear’s latest
model or one that allowed
advanced digital hearing solution – the Miracle-Ear Genius. You will students to return to school
buildings full-time.
be able to walk in to our office and walk out knowing how much
Gobble said the a goal of
help there is for you! the hybrid model includes
allowing students to keep
Candidates will be asked to evaluate our instruments for 30 days their same classes and
teachers consistent for the
(risk free*).At the end of the 30 days,if you are satisfied with the second semester.
“Remote and in-person
improvement in your hearing and wish to keep the instrument,you may do
students will experience
so at tremendous savings.But this is only for a limited time!You must each lesson simulta-
neously,” Gobble said.
schedule your appointment by December 18th,2020.Don’t wait!!
Superintendent Eric
Twadell acknowledged that
MIRACLE-EAR HEARING AID
the hybrid model has limi-
CENTER IS NOW OFFERING tations, particularly when
compared with all in-per-
HEARING AIDS AT NO COST TO son instruction.
“The challenge for us is
FEDERAL WORKERS AND RETIREES
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No Adjustment Fee! at home,” Twadell said.
“Unless we were just to
BCBS federal insurance pays the total cost of 2 Miracle-Ear MINI 1 double the number of
teachers, we’re going to
series aids. Most federal government employees and retirees are eligible.
have to engage in that si-
You may even be covered if you have other non-federal insurance multaneous teaching mod-
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YOUR SAFETY MATTERS
With the hybrid model,
the district will also have to
monitor where COVID-19
outbreaks exist in the com-
Wewanttoreassureyouthatyoursafetyandwell-beingwillalwaysbeour munity. The goal will be to
test all Stevenson students
for COVID-19, Twadell said.
priorityandwearecontinuingtomonitorandfollowalllocal,
“We think that (data)
collection is critical to get-
stateandfederalhealthguidelines.
ting people to feel comfort-
able about coming back to
school,” Twadell said. “That
will not be Lake County
FREE 2
data but the data of the 500
adults and 4,000 students
Hearing who come to campus every
day — who’s tested positive
$20 Walmart Aids and what’s the percentage
of positivity in our building.
Gift Card* $895* It’s really important to
make people feel comfort-
*Limitone$20giftcardpercustomer.Notredeemable able.”
forcash.Hearingtestmustbeperformedandcustomer Gobble predicted that a
mustbe60yearsofageoroldertoqualify.Mustbring
large number of Stevenson
aspouseorrelativeforhearingtests.Whilesupplies
OffervalidonMINISolution1series students will — at least at
last.Offersexpires12/18/2020.
Notvalidwithtest/purchaseinlast6months. hearingaids.Expires12/18/2020. the outset — choose to stay
with all-remote instruction.
“I’m going to tell you that
in January and February, if
FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2020
the virus is still a little bit
out of control as it is right
now, I fully expect more
100% FINANCING APPROVAL†† 24 MONTHS†† than half of our kids will
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fine. We want to offer qual-
Because everyone deserves better hearing! OR INTEREST FREE FINANCING ity work and we also want
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On Any Miracle-Ear Hearing Aid!
home are an integral part of
the classroom,” Gobble said.
In response to a question
LIMITED TIME OFFER! from board member Fei
Shang, Gobble noted that
with 4,000 students
enrolled at Stevenson, each
of the three groups being
created for the hybrid mod-
el will have no more than
CALL TODAY FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT!
1,400 students each. He
suggested that with per-
NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 18TH, 2020 haps half that amount opt-
ing to attend in-person
some days, “700 kids spread
around our million-square-
MIRACLE-EAR HEARING AID CENTERS
foot building is going to be
1-888-387-3068
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“But I think over time,
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4CedarRidgeDrive ServiceCenter,Complex245 LincolnwoodCommons 5105E81stAve LakeParkPlaza WashingtonCommons goes down,” Gobble said.
SuiteA 245WJohnsonRd 6923NLincolnAve 4337FranklinSt 7913GolfRd Due to required social
NAPERVILLE NORRIDGE OAKLAWN OLYMPIAFIELDS ORLANDPARK OTTAWA distancing, each classroom
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256IllinoisRt59 4950NCumberlandAve 3220VollmerRd 15880SLaGrangeRd students at a time.
PERU PRINCETON SCHAUMBURG SOUTHELGIN VERNONHILLS VILLAPARK WHEATON The district is expected
1222ShootingParkRd 717SouthMainSt CopleyCenter StonyCreekShoppingCenter 701NMilwaukeeAve 100ERooseveltRd DanadaSquareWest to give board members a
Suite106 162EGolfRd Suite124 Suite19 final look at the hybrid
education plan at the
CODE:GA104619
*Riskfreeoffer,theaidsmustbereturnedwithin30daysofdeliveryifnotcompletelysatisfiedand100%ofthepurchasepricewillberefunded.†Suppliesmayvaryperoffice.Hearingaidsdonotrestorenaturalhearing. board’s Dec. 14 meeting.
Individualexperiencesvarydependingonseverityofloss,accuracyofevaluation,properfitandabilitytoadapttoamplification.BlueCrossBlueShieldisaregisteredtrademarkofBlueCrossBlueShield.BlueCrossBlue
Shieldisnotaffiliatedwith,nordoesitendorseorsponsor,thecontentsofthisadvertisement.TrademarksreferringtospecificprovidersareusedbyMiracleEarfornominativepurposesonly:totruthfullyidentifythesource Bob Goldsborough is a free-
oftheservicesaboutwhichinformationisprovided.Suchtrademarksaresolelythepropertyoftheirrespectiveowners.
lance reporter.
7
Chicago Tribune | Section1 | Friday,December4,2020
Officer accused of past sexual assaults
Prosecutors say
Arthur Wesley dating app in June property in fall 2014, some- lice audio and video record- day’s hearing.
attacks predated Willis that both 2013. When he vis- thing that prosecutors said ed statements naming Ne- Willis released Neely on
victims, now 21 ited her Oak Park happened multiple times ely as the person who as- $100,000 bail but gave him a
CPD employment
and 38, delayed re- apartment the through March 2015. saulted her, prosecutors curfew and barred him
porting the as- next month, he In winter months, Neely said. from contact with victims.
By William Lee saults to author- told her he was a volunteered to drop offstu- Neely’s attorney, Adam Neely’s work status with
ities. The 21-year- cop, according to dents at home after prac- Sheppard, said his client Chicago police was uncer-
A Chicago police officer old victim filed a Murphy. She tice, but he allegedly took was a good cop with more tain. In a statement
appeared before a judge police report in bought wine but the victim to his basement , than 10 honorable mentions Wednesday evening, au-
Wednesday facing felony late September af- Neely left her glass unat- where he would give her and that he has been coop- thorities confirmed an in-
allegations that he sexually ter telling her boyfriend, tended to get him a glass of alcohol and sexually assault erative with investigations ternal investigation but
assaulted a high school stu- who encouraged her to con- water at his request. Shortly her, Murphy said. by the Bureau of Internal wouldn’t say whether Neely
dent and a young woman tact authorities, Assistant after drinking from her Once he even pulled her Affairs and the Illinois De- would remain on active
years before he was hired as State’s Attorney James glass, she became disori- from English class with a partment of Children and duty. “If it’s determined the
acop in 2017. Murphy told the court. ented and her vision be- false story so he could Family Services. Neely has a allegations are true, appro-
Winford L. Neely, 39, of The second victim re- came blurry, Murphy said. assault her in a school book long history of coaching priate disciplinary action
the Sauganash neighbor- ported the assault last year Neely then allegedly as- room, Murphy alleged. youth basketball, volleyball will be taken,” the statement
hood, was charged with five to Chicago police, where saulted the woman on her Neely left the school to and football, Sheppard said, read.
counts of criminal sexual Neely told her he worked in bed but left once she began become a Chicago police and his client has no other Sheppard said Neely had
abuse for alleged assaults on 2013, which wasn’t true at bleeding, prosecutors said. officer in 2017 but contin- such allegations against been working his regular
victims dating to 2013, ac- that time, Murphy pointed The second victim was a ued to reach out to the him. shift during the investiga-
cording to Cook County out. Because the alleged 15-year-old student and victim through social media “He was a beloved tion and planned to contin-
prosecutors. His attorney incident occurred in Oak basketball player at an un- as recently as October, Mur- basketball coach with no ue working unless told oth-
proclaimed his innocence, Park, the case was trans- named school while Neely phy said. allegations by anybody at erwise.
saying he was a family man ferred to police there, and worked as a security guard The day after the victim the high school of any Neely is scheduled to
and devoted coach. the woman implicated Ne- and basketball coach at her filed a police report, Neely misconduct other than the return to court on Dec. 23.
During a bail hearing ely in a video interview. school, authorities said. Ne- sent her a friend request on accuser in our case,” Shep-
broadcast on YouTube, The 38-year-old victim ely allegedly began sexually Snapchat that she ignored, pard said in a telephone Tribune reporter Megan
prosecutors told Judge said she met Neely on a assaulting the girl on school Murphy said. She gave po- interview after Wednes- Crepeau contributed.
Someone shot
at 4 people in a
Kia in Lawndale
After the car crashed, 2 people were
found dead and 2 injured, police say
By Katherine senger seat and Banks sat
Rosenberg-Douglas directly behind her, James
said. Both died from multi-
Two people in their ple injuries resulting from
early 20s were killed amotor vehicle striking a
Wednesday night after fixed object and their
their car was shot at and it deaths were ruled homi-
crashed on the West Side, cides, the Cook County
injuring two others, au- medical examiner’s office
thorities said. determined following au-
About 8 p.m., officers topsies Thursday.
were called to the 4300 Two others who were in
block of West Roosevelt the vehicle were injured.
Road in the Lawndale The driver, a 25-year-old
neighborhood, according man, was not shot but
to Chicago police. Two treated for minor injuries
people in a white 2015 suffered in the crash and
four-door Kia Optima released, James said. A
sedan were found dead 25-year-old woman sitting
after someone in a passing behind him on the driver’s
dark blue 2020 Chevrolet side was shot in the lower
Equinox SUV shot at the back and treated at Loyola
Kia, causing it to hit a University Medical Center
parked car near the inter- in Maywood, where she
section of Laramie Avenue had been listed in critical
and Roosevelt, according condition.
to Karie James, a police Police indicated there
spokeswoman. also had been four people
Kiondria Richards, 21, in the Equinox, which
of East 142nd Place in subsequently crashed in
Dolton and Nautica Banks, the 5800 block of West
23, of the 700 block of Roosevelt Road. Its occu-
CHICAGO POLICE South Kenneth Avenue in pants all ran from the
Chicago police released this picture of one of two people wanted for the killing of Earl Miller, 74, on West 103rd Street. Chicago, were both pro- scene. No arrests had been
nounced dead at 8:26 p.m., made.
Boy, 15, accused of beating man according to the medical
examiner’s office. Rich- kdouglas@chicago
ards was in the front pas- tribune.com
with bat, setting his body on fire
4 killed when driver tries
By Rosemary Sobol down near a gangway. A
to evade police in Berkeley
bloodied bat and lighter
A 15-year-old boy has fluid were found nearby,
been charged with beating a police said.
74-year-old man with a Miller suffered trauma to By Katherine duct a traffic stop, but the
baseball man and then set- the head and severe burns, Rosenberg-Douglas driver “fled the scene” at
ting his body on fire near a police said. high speed, Larem wrote
vacant lot on the Far South In an earlier community Four people died in a in an email. At the inter-
Side in September, accord- alert issued by police, the crash this week in west section of Bohlander and
ing to Chicago police. attackers were described as suburban Berkeley after Taft avenues, the driver
The boy, not identified African American males, the driver attempted to missed or ignored a stop
because of his age, was cited one of them wearing a black evade police, authorities sign and as it moved into
in a juvenile petition with graphic T-shirt, gray sweat- said Thursday. the intersection, the car
murder and concealment of pants with white stripes on About 11 p.m. Monday was hit by a semitrailer,
a homicidal death, police the sides, a multicolor back- an officer with the Berke- Larem said.
said. He was picked up pack and a paper mask. The ley Police Department The driver and three
around 12:30 p.m. Wednes- other one was wearing saw a vehicle parked in an people who were in the
day by the Great Lakes light-colored jeans, a black alley behind a retail plaza car died from injuries they
Regional Task Force in the hoodie and white gym at 5555 St. Charles Road, suffered in the collision,
1100 block of South Hamil- shoes, police said. according to Chief Tim Larem said. The driver of
ton Avenue, which is the Chicago police said they Larem. It wasn’t immedi- the semi was not injured,
address of the Juvenile Jus- This picture is of the second of two people wanted in the are still looking for the other ately clear what type of Larem said.
tice Center in Chicago. fatal beating of a man with a baseball bat. attacker and urged anyone vehicle it was, but Larem The Cook County med-
The boy was identified as with information to call said its lights were off and ical examiner’s office had
one of two people who used fire around 8:30 p.m. Sept. wood neighborhood. police, 312-747-8271. no license plate was vis- not released the names of
abat to pummel Earl Miller, 22 in the 200 block of West Responding officers ible. the deceased as of Thurs-
74, and then set his body on 103rd Street in the Fern- found Miller lying face- [email protected] The officer tried to con- day.
Final sentencing set for man who said he was missing Aurora boy
By Dan Sewell but that the judge information about ment admitting that he from his own family, the FBI when his father dropped
Associated Press also wanted to see Rini’s mental and claimed he was Timmothy said. him off at Greenman Ele-
results of a pre- physical health. Pitzen, an Aurora boy who Rini’s DNA was already mentary School in Aurora
CINCINNATI — A fed- sentencing investi- His attorney disappeared at age 6 in 2011. on file because of his crimi- on May 11, 2011.
eral judge on Wednesday set gation before offi- didn’t respond im- Rini had told authorities nal record. He has served He was picked up shortly
final sentencing for Dec. 15 cially entering his mediately to an he had just escaped captors time for burglary and van- after by his mother, Amy
for an Ohio man who falsely sentence. emailed request who sexually abused him dalism. Fry-Pitzen, who took him
claimed to be long-missing Court records for comment. Rini, for years. He twice portrayed him- on a three-day trip to a zoo
Aurora boy Timmothy show the deadline of Medina, Ohio, When confronted with self in Ohio as a juvenile and water parks before she
Pitzen. U.S. District Judge for the investiga- Rini was arrested by DNA results proving he victim of sex trafficking, and was found dead by suicide in
Michael Barrett early this tion has been ex- FBI agents in April wasn’t Pitzen, Rini said he in each case was identified aRockford motel room.
year told Brian Michael tended repeatedly during 2019. He pleaded guilty to had watched a story about after being fingerprinted, Notes she left behind
Rini, now 25, that he must the pandemic. aggravated identity theft. Timmothy on ABC’s “20/ authorities have said. stated her son was safe but
serve two years behind bars The report likely includes He signed a court docu- 20” and wanted to get away Timmothy Pitzen was 6 would never be found.

9
Chicago Tribune | Section1 | Friday,December4,2020
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY
Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., at lectern, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers hold a news
conference on virus relief Thursday.
Virus
Ill., over a provision much braced the $908 billion ap-
sought by Republicans and proach from moderate
McConnell in particular Sens. Collins and Joe
Continued fromPage1 that would give a liability Manchin, D-W.Va., among
shield to businesses, uni- others.
Some conservatives, in- versities and other organi- It would establish a $300
cluding Republicans from zations against COVID-19- per week jobless benefit,
COVID-19 hotspots like related lawsuits. send $160 billion to help
North Dakota and Iowa, McConnell himself said a state and local govern-
said they were comfortable huge drop in Democratic ments, boost schools and
with an aid package carry- demands — from more than universities, revive popular
ing the almost $1 trillion $2 trillion to less than $1 “paycheck protection” sub-
price tag. Sen. Kevin trillion — was “at least sidies for businesses, and
Cramer, R-N.D., said the movement in the right di- bail out transit systems and
bipartisan plan is “the right rection.” airlines.
balance of compromise and And President Donald “In the spirit of compro-
it’s a number that’s doable.” Trump weighed in to sup- mise we believe the biparti-
Added Lindsey Graham, port the idea. Obtaining his san framework introduced
R-S.C.: “There’s a bipartisan necessary signature can be a by Senators yesterday
package for $908 billion bit of a high-wire act, espe- should be used as the basis
that will really help people.” cially since any COVID-19 for immediate bipartisan,
The path forward is clut- relief is likely to be added to bicameral negotiations,“
tered with obstacles, how- acatchall spending bill. Pelosi and Schumer said.
ever, including a tight time “I think they are getting They said they would try to
frame and hard feelings very close and I want it to build upon the approach,
from months of futile talks happen,” Trump said. which has support in the
and a contentious election. At stake is whether to House from the bipartisan
But the $908 billion cost provide at least some “problem solvers“ coalition.
is what many Republicans, COVID-19 aid now rather The statement was a sig-
McConnell included, sig- than wait until Biden takes nificant concession by Pel-
naled they were willing to office Jan. 20. Businesses, osi and Schumer, who
accept this summer. especially airlines, restau- played hardball this fall
McConnell, his leverage rants and health providers, during failed preelection
apparently bolstered after are desperate for help as discussions with the admin-
the election, continues to caseloads spiral and deaths istration on a costlier bill.
take a hard line, insisting in spike. Money to help states They wanted a more gener- Crossword
a Thursday floor speech distribute vaccines is ous unemployment benefit
that any relief package be needed, and supplemental and far more for state and
limited to consensus items pandemic unemployment local governments. Their
like another round of “pay- aid that provides additional embrace of the $908 billion
check protection“ aid to weeks of jobless benefits measure was a retreat from
businesses, funding to dis- expires at the end of the asecret $1.3 trillion offer the
tribute vaccines, and aid to month. two Democrats gave Mc-
schools. Biden is supporting an Connell just on Monday.
“Why should these im- additional aid package “In the spirit of compro-
pactful and noncontrover- that’s as large as possible mise, Speaker Pelosi and I
sial life-preservers be de- now. He said Wednesday believe that the bipartisan
layed one second longer?” that an aid package devel- framework introduced on
McConnell said. “At long oped by moderates Tuesday should be used as
last, let’s do what Congress “wouldn’t be the answer, the basis, as a framework for
does when we want an but it would be the immedi- immediate bipartisan nego-
outcome. Let’s make law on ate help for a lot of things.” tiations,“ Schumer said. “Of
all the subjects where we He wants a relief bill to pass course, we and others will
agree.” Congress now, with more offer improvements but we
Later, McConnell met aid to come next year. believe with good faith ne-
with Republicans who are Biden’s remarks followed gotiations we could very
working the scaled-back, an announcement by Pelosi well come to an agree-
bipartisan measure, includ- and Senate Democratic ment.“
ing Sens. Susan Collins, R- leader Chuck Schumer of The new plan includes a
Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R- New York supporting the liability shield for busi-
Alaska, and Mitt Romney, almost $1 trillion approach nesses and other organiza-
R-Utah. Across Capitol Hill, as the “basis” for discus- tions that have reopened
an allied bipartisan “prob- sions. their doors during the pan-
lem solvers” group claimed The announcement ap- demic. It’s the first time
growing momentum at an peared aimed at budging Pelosi and Schumer have
outdoor news conference. McConnell, who so far has shown a willingness to con-
A key McConnell ally, been unwilling to abandon a sider the idea, a top priority
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, $550 billion Senate GOP of McConnell, and Durbin’s
said he is negotiating with plan that failed twice this involvement suggests a level
fellow Judiciary Committee fall. of seriousness that had not
member Dick Durbin, D- The Democrats em- been previously seen.
ByJacquelineE.Mathews.©2020TribuneContentAgency,LLC.Allrightsreserved. 12/4/20
ACROSS 45Fordsubcompact Solutions
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at7:00p.m.intheBoardRoomattheAdministrativeCenter,1200N.WolfRoad, 16Friendlynation 57Uncommon
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Berkeley,Illinois.
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to the taxing district may contact Laura Vince, Assistant Superintendent 21Stranger 60NBAteam
22Termofaffection 61Woman’sattire
for Business Services/CSBO, 1200 N. Wolf Road, Berkeley, Illinois and
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708-449-3350. LBJ… there!”
25Miner’stool
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33OneofAttila’s 4__No.5;classic 23Baker’sneed dislikes
are$20,630,000.Thisrepresentsan5.93%increaseoverthepreviousyear. men perfume 24Landowner’s 42Tiresinthetrunk
III. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission 35__annualbasis; 5Swift paper 43Smallrestaurants
yearly 6Inaddition 25Storeaway 45Glasscompany
leasesfor2019were$2,151,912. 36Of__mind;sane 7Wilsonof1970s 26Asiancapitalcity orders
The estimated property taxes to be levied for debt service and public building 37__tostay; TV 27Emaciated 46OTfiller
permanent 8Feminineending 28Heatregulator 47Oahubanquet
commission leases for 2020 are $7,268,466. This represents a 237.77% 38Tookfirstprize 9Fanparts 29Suddenincrease 48Deserve;merit
39Submitted 10Terrafirma 31Soilturners 49Recipeverb
increaseoverthepreviousyear.
question 11Suffixfor 32Startofthe 50Scrabblepiece
IV. Thetotalpropertytaxesextendedorabatedfor2019were$21,627,032. 40Smithy’sfurnace correspondor Lord’sPrayer 52Breaksafast
41Personal refer 34In__;poor 53Presidential
Theestimatedtotalpropertytaxestobeleviedfor2020are$27,898,466.This problems 12Sourceofsoft 36Tooktocourt nickname
43Beyondhelp; leather 37Hilariousperson 55Silentassent
representsa29.00%increaseoverthepreviousyear.
donefor 13Bloodanalysissite 39Affirmative 56Enjoyawinter
44Veggiecasing 18December4 actionword sport
10
Chicago Tribune | Section1 | Friday,December4,2020
NATION & WORLD
States differ on vaccine priorities
Both economic, gives highest priority to
health care workers but also
health concerns
calls for first responders to
affecting decisions be in the first batch to get
the shot. Other states are
By Sam Metz struggling with where to put
and Ryan J. Foley prisoners in the pecking
Associated Press order.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey
States drafted plans said he wants teachers to get
Thursday for who will go to priority so that schools can
the front of the line when stay open. Two California
the first doses of COVID-19 lawmakers asked for that,
vaccine become available too, saying distance learning
later this month, as U.S. is harming students’ educa-
deaths from the outbreak tion.
eclipsed 3,100 in a single day, “Our state’s children can-
obliterating the record set not afford to wait,” wrote
last spring. Republican Assemblyman
With initial supplies of Jordan Cunningham and
the vaccine certain to be Democratic Assemblyman
limited, governors and other Patrick O’Donnell. “This is
state officials are weighing too important to overlook or
both health and economic sweep aside.”
concerns in deciding the Texas is putting hospital
order in which the shots will staff, nursing home workers
be dispensed. and paramedics at the top of
States face a Friday dead- the list, followed by outpa-
line to submit requests for tient medical employees,
doses of the Pfizer vaccine pharmacists, funeral home
and specify where they workers and school nurses.
should be shipped, and Nursing home patients did
many appear to be heeding JAE C. HONG/AP not make the cut for the very
nonbinding guidelines Dr. Rafik Abdou checks on a COVID-19 patient last month at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles. first phase.
adopted this week by the Advocates strongly ex-
Centers for Disease Control Strip, authorities initially ing to the tally kept by Johns slipping deeper into crisis, zations and cases in the U.S. pressed frustration over the
and Prevention to put health put nursing home patients Hopkins University. That’s with perhaps the worst yet have been on a fairly steady way some states are putting
care workers and nursing in the third phase, behind more than the number of to come — in part because of rise for weeks, sometimes medical workers ahead of
home patients first. police officers, teachers, air- people killed on 9/11, and the delayed effects from breaking records for days on nursing home residents.
But they’re also facing a port operators and retail shattered the old mark of Thanksgiving, when mil- end. “It would be unconscion-
multitude of decisions about workers. But they said 2,603, set on April 15, when lions of Americans disre- Keeping health care able not to give top priority
other categories of resi- Wednesday that they would the New York metropolitan garded warnings to stay workers on their feet is to protect the population
dents, some of them specific revise that plan to conform area was the epicenter of the home and celebrate only considered vital to dealing that is more susceptible or
to their states, some of them to the CDC guidance. U.S. outbreak. with members of their with the crisis. And nursing vulnerable to the virus,” said
vital to their economies. Plans for the vaccine are The number of Ameri- household. home patients have proven John Sauer, head of Lead-
Colorado’s draft plan, being rolled out as the cans in the hospital with the Health authorities had highly vulnerable to the ingAge in Wisconsin, a
which is being revised, puts surging pandemic swamps coronavirus likewise hit an warned that the numbers virus. Patients and staff group representing non-
ski resort workers who U.S. hospitals and leaves all-time high Wednesday at could fluctuate strongly be- members at nursing homes profit long-term care facili-
share close quarters in the nurses and other medical more than 100,000, accord- fore and after Thanksgiving, and other long-term care ties.
second phase of vaccine workers shorthanded and ing to the COVID Tracking as they often do around centers account for 39% of He added: “I can’t think
distribution, in recognition burned out. Nationwide the Project. The figure has more holidays and weekends. Be- the nation’s COVID-19 of a more raw form of
of the $6 billion industry’s coronavirus is blamed for than doubled over the past cause of reporting delays, deaths. ageism than that. The popu-
linchpin role in the state’s over 275,000deaths and 14 month. And new cases per the figures often drop, then As authorities draw up lation that is most vulnera-
economy. million confirmed infec- day have begun topping rise sharply days later as their priority lists for the ble to succumbing to this
In Nevada, where offi- tions. 200,000, by Johns Hopkins’ state and local health agen- vaccine, firefighter groups virus is not going to be given
cials have stressed the im- The U.S. recorded a count. cies catch up with the back- asked the Minnesota gover- priority? I mean, that just
portance of bringing tour- record 3,157 deaths on The three main bench- log. nor to be placed in the first says we don’t value the lives
ists back to the Las Vegas Wednesday alone, accord- marks showed a country Still, deaths, hospitali- group. The Illinois plan of people in long-term care.”
British, US officials scrap
over ‘vaccine nationalism’
Fauci: Regulators “We’ve got the best medi- Jeremy Farrar, director of
cal regulators,” Williamson the Wellcome Trust and a
more careful than
said. “We’re a much better scientific adviser to the
UK counterparts country than every single British government. “Scien-
one of them.” ce has always been the exit
By Benjamin Mueller Those remarks drew eye strategy from this horren-
The New York Times rolls from British scientists dous pandemic — that scien-
but also provoked more seri- ce has been global.”
LONDON — British and ous concerns that any chest- There have been more
U.S. officials sparred Thurs- beating by government min- than 14 million confirmed
day over how Britain had isters since Britain became coronavirus cases in U.S. and
beaten the United States to the first Western country to almost another 1.7 million in
authorizing a coronavirus authorize a coronavirus vac- the U.K., according to Johns
vaccine, a debate encom- cine risked undermining the Hopkins University. The
passing regulatory stand- public’s faith in one. U.S. has the most COVID-19
ards and politics that has Several top lawmakers in deaths with almost 276,000,
heated up as wealthy coun- Prime Minister Boris John- while the U.K. leads Europe
tries vie to receive the first son’s government have in- with just over 60,000.
shipments of vaccines. correctly cast Britain’s split The British government KSENIA KULESHOVA/THE NEW YORK TIMES
Dr. Anthony Fauci, direc- with the European Union as Wednesday outlined the Doses of the Pfizer vaccine, developed with Germany-based pharmaceutical company
tor of the National Institute the reason it authorized a complicated logistics in- BioNTech are being packaged a Pfizer plant in Puurs, Belgium, for shipment to Britain.
of Allergy and Infectious vaccine first. In fact, Britain volved in its trying to distrib-
Diseases, said British regula- remains under the bloc’s ute the coronavirus vaccine. vaccine meant it was going emails in recent days outlin- The government has not
tors had not scrutinized the regulatory umbrella when it Roughly 800,000 doses of to be given only at 50 British ing plans for scheduling the said when other employees
data as carefully as their U.S. comes to drug and vaccine the Pfizer vaccine, devel- hospitals to begin with. The shots. A government advis- of the National Health Serv-
counterparts in the Food approvals, and was able to oped with BioNTech, a vaccine must be transported ory committee has sug- ice would be eligible for
and Drug Administration. move more quickly because smaller German company, at South Pole-like tempera- gested that older or more vaccines. Essential workers,
“We have the gold stand- of European regulations en- were being packaged at the tures and in trays of 975 vulnerable health workers, such as teachers, transport
ard of a regulatory approach abling it to make determina- company’s Belgian manu- doses. and doctors and nurses who workers and emergency
with the FDA,” Fauci said tions on its own in public facturing plant for shipment But already Thursday, work with fragile patients, medical workers, would not
Thursday. “The U.K. did not health emergencies. to Britain. euphoria among British would be among the first in be vaccinated until after
do it as carefully, and they While, as a political mat- How and when they will health officials and lawmak- line. people 50 and older and
got a couple of days ahead.” ter, Brexit may have made it arrive is being kept secret for ers of having authorized a But by Thursday, hospital those with underlying
Gavin Williamson, Brit- easier for Britain to autho- security reasons, the com- vaccine was giving way to a executives appeared to be health problems.
ain’s education secretary, rize the vaccine early, the pany said, although the BBC realization of the difficult having to change their plans: The advisory committee
said Thursday that Britain divorce has made the job of reported Thursday that choices involved in how to The government put a pri- plans had made nursing
had won the race to autho- its medical regulators more some doses were being administer it. ority on vaccinating nursing home residents a top pri-
rize the first fully tested difficult in other ways. transported by the Eurotun- Hospitals had been pre- home workers and people ority, but they will have to
coronavirus vaccine be- “Vaccine nationalism has nel between France and paring to vaccinate doctors age 80 and older with previ- wait until the government
cause its regulators were no place in COVID or other Britain. and nurses in the country’s ously scheduled appoint- grapples with the added
better than the French, Bel- public health matters of The logistics of moving, National Health Service ments at hospitals that have complication of distributing
gians or Americans. global significance,” said defrosting and preparing the first, even sending internal the vaccine. vaccines beyond hospitals.
3 ex-presidents willing to get vaccine publicly
By Will Weissert that when it’s been made for available by the end of this W. Bush’s chief of staff,
Associated Press people who are less at risk, I year. Each product also re- Freddy Ford, told CNN that
will be taking it. quires two doses, meaning the former president re-
WASHINGTON— Three “I may end up taking it on shots will be rationed in the cently asked him to meet
former presidents say they’d TV or having it filmed, just early stages. with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the
be willing to take a co- so that people know that I Still, former President Bill nation’s top infectious dis-
ronavirus vaccine publicly, trust this science.” Clinton would “definitely” ease expert, and Dr. Debo-
once one becomes available, That may not be possible be willing to get a vaccine, as rah Birx, the White House
to encourage all Americans for the foreseeable future, soon as one is “available to coronavirus response coor-
to get inoculated against a though. The Food and Drug him, based on the priorities dinator, to let them “know
disease that has already Administration will con- determined by public health that, when the time is right,
killed more than 275,000 sider authorizing emer- officials,” spokesman Angel he wants to do what he can
people nationwide. gency use of two vaccines Urena said. to help encourage his fellow
Former President Barack made by Pfizer and Mod- “And he will do it in a citizens to get vaccinated.”
Obama said during an epi- erna later this month, but public setting if it will help The only other living for-
PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS/AP 2010 sode of SiriusXM’s “The Joe current estimates project urge all Americans to do the mer president, Jimmy Cart-
Bill Clinton, from left, Barack Obama and George W. Bush Madison Show” that aired that no more than 20 million same,” Urena said Thursday. er, 96, hasn’t said if he’d seek
say they’ll get a COVID-19 vaccine when available to them. Thursday: “I promise you doses of each vaccine will be Former President George apublic vaccination.