Chicago restaurants and bars have been prohibited from serving patrons indoors since Oct. 30, when a sustained and grave surge of coronavirus cases threatened to overwhelm the city and state’s hospitals and health care system.
Stories by heather cherone
City to Run 6 Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Sites for Health Care Workers
New mass vaccination sites will open on Friday at Olive Harvey City College, on Tuesday at Kennedy-King City College and on Wednesday at Truman City College, officials announced.
Northwest Side Man Charged in Connection with Capitol Riot
A Chicago man has been charged in connection with the pro-Trump riot that swept the Capitol on Jan. 6 after he posted a picture on Instagram outside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office with the caption “WHOS HOUSE? OUR HOUSE!”
Chicagoans Older Than 65 Could Get Vaccinated Starting ‘Next Week’: City’s Top Doctor
City health officials will allow Chicagoans 65 and older to be vaccinated against COVID-19 starting next week — if there are doses available after health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities are vaccinated, the city’s top doctor told aldermen Wednesday.
Chicago Cites 11 Restaurants, Bars for Violating COVID-19 Restrictions
Investigators with the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection conducted 105 investigations from Thursday through Sunday.
Ethics Board Fines Ald. Austin $145,500 for Accepting Improper Campaign Contributions
The fine, approved by an unanimous vote Monday, marks the first time the ethics board has levied the maximum fine allowed for violations of the city’s campaign finance law — three times the amount of the improper campaign contributions.
City Revamps Travel Order to Create 2 Levels of Restrictions
Under the new system, which will take effect Friday, a state will be placed in one of two categories — orange or yellow — based on whether it has more than 15 new COVID-19 cases per day, per 100,000 population, officials said.
Aldermen Push Back on School Reopening Plan That’s Already Underway
Dozens of aldermen peppered school and health officials with questions Monday about the effort underway to reopen Chicago Public Schools for in-person learning after a 300-day closure prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Pritzker Replaces Head of Veterans Affairs After COVID-19 Outbreak in LaSalle Linked to 36 Deaths
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday replaced the director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs after a COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Illinois Veterans Home was linked to the deaths of 36 veterans.
City Council Supermajority Urges Chicago Police Union President to Resign
A resolution signed by 35 aldermen comes days after police union head John Catanzara praised the rioters who stormed and invaded the U.S. Capitol building.
Lightfoot Extends Stay-at-Home Order Until Jan. 22
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Sunday extended the advisory that urges Chicagoans to stay home in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 — meaning it will be in effect for 12 days after the first Chicago Public Schools students go back to in-person class.
Pritzker Extends Ban on Coronavirus-Related Evictions Until Feb. 6
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday that Illinois’ ban on evictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic would be extended once again as the COVID-19 pandemic rages, despite the start of efforts to distribute vaccines.
After Ethics Board Warning, Elected Official Deletes Prayer Service from City Social Media Accounts
The complaint filed against the elected official, whose name and office was not identified in accordance with the board’s rules, is expected to be dismissed at the board’s meeting scheduled for Monday.
COVID-19 Cases in Illinois Top 1 Million
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said on Twitter that the benchmark was a “tragic milestone” that was “heart-wrenching.”
US Rep. Kinzinger Calls For Trump’s Removal By 25th Amendment
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican representing Illinois’ 16th Congressional District, called Thursday morning for President Donald Trump to be removed immediately from office and replaced by Vice President Mike Pence.
Toughest COVID-19 Restrictions Could Lift Jan. 15: Pritzker
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday the toughest restrictions in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus could lift in regions across the state as soon as Jan. 15.
Pritzker Lowers Age Limit for Next Phase Of Vaccine to 65, Says Won’t Start For ‘Weeks’
Once efforts to inoculate health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities from COVID-19 are complete, Illinois residents 65 and older as well as essential workers will be eligible for the vaccine, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday.
Chicago Police Officer Arrested in Connection With Off-Duty Shooting
Officer Joseph Cabrera faces charges of aggravated assault and making a false statement in connection with the Oct. 13 shooting which occurred near 5200 S. Monitor Ave., according to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.
Cardinal Removes Pfleger From St. Sabina as Child Abuse Complaint is Investigated
Cardinal Blase Cupich asked the Rev. Michael Pfleger to step down as senior pastor of St. Sabina Catholic Church while the Archdiocese of Chicago investigates an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor more than 40 years ago.
Competing Proposals to Create Elected Board to Oversee CPD Remain in Limbo
Long-stalled efforts to put an elected board of Chicago residents in charge of the Chicago Police Department remain mired in debate, as Mayor Lori Lightfoot declined Tuesday to commit to a timeline to create the required police oversight body.
Lightfoot: ‘We Do Not Have Enough Vaccine,’ as 1st Doctors, Nurses Get 2nd Dose
Chicago health officials have distributed 95% of the vaccine sent to the city by federal officials, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said, but has the capacity to handle more doses. The current pace is “frankly, unacceptable,” she said. “The federal government must step up.”
Wrigleyville Bar Shuttered by City After Cops Discover New Year’s Eve Party
The Dugout Bar in Wrigleyville will remain closed indefinitely after police officers responding to a call for help about a person being attacked in the 900 block of Addison Street found a large New Year’s Eve party, officials said.
City Council Supermajority Urges Lightfoot to Rethink School Reopening Plan
A cross section of aldermen — including some of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s closest allies — urged her on Sunday to rethink her plan to reopen the Chicago Public Schools for in-person learning, 24 hours before the first teachers must report to school buildings for work.
Watchdog Opens Probe of Botched Raid as Lightfoot Meets With Young
Inspector General Joseph Ferguson told aldermen on Thursday that his office “has initiated and is proceeding with a formal inquiry into aspects of the search warrant” that authorized a botched raid in February 2019 that left Anjanette Young handcuffed while naked and pleading for help.
‘Fair Workweek’ Law Takes Full Effect After 6-Month Delay Caused by Pandemic
Chicago employers who are required to give their workers two weeks’ notice of their schedules in an effort to reduce the stress caused by unpredictable shift work can be sued when the law takes full effect Friday after a six-month delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Era of Horse-Drawn Carriages in Chicago Ends With Whimper
The sound of hoofs pounding the pavement along the Magnificent Mile will be a thing of the past starting Friday, as a ban on horse-drawn carriages takes effect after a yearslong effort by animal welfare advocates.
