Stories by Marc Vitali
A Virtual Visit to a Luminous Collection of Spiritual Art
| Marc Vitali
A private tour of a collection of artistic treasures with a spiritual focus. Our latest “virtual visit” is a look at artwork designed to inspire.
Plover Chicks Have Names: Introducing Hazel, Esperanza and Nish
| Patty Wetli
More than 500 names were submitted for the chicks, which hatched in June, and the selected monikers reflect the history and spirit of Chicago.
Sounding a ‘Distress Signal,’ Lightfoot Warns Chicago is Falling Behind on Census Response
| Heather Cherone
Approximately 55% of Chicagoans have so far responded to the 2020 census, but that is “not even close to where we need to be,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said. Now, she’s enlisting a familiar face to help with outreach.
Chicago Police Add Language Access Coordinator to Better Engage Non-English Speakers
| Matt Masterson
To better communicate with residents who have limited English proficiency, the Chicago Police Department has hired Roxana Cortes, a former Chicago Public Schools translation specialist.
Got Maskne? Tips to Prevent, Treat Acne Under Your Mask
| Kristen Thometz
Wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently and using hand sanitizer can take a toll on your skin. A local dermatologist shares tips to preventing and treating ailments like “maskne.”
Ald. Carrie Austin Announces She Has the Coronavirus
| Heather Cherone
In a message addressed to “residents and neighbors,” the alderman, who represents the Far South Side’s 34th Ward, said she is “currently progressing toward a full recovery.”
Chicago Breaks Record for Vote-By-Mail Applications
| Heather Cherone
More than 121,000 voters requested mail-in ballots from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners since the application period opened less than a month ago, officials said.
Washington’s NFL Team Drops ‘Redskins’ Name After 87 Years
| Associated Press
The Washington NFL franchise announced Monday it is dropping the “Redskins” name and Indian head logo, bowing to recent pressure from sponsors and decades of criticism that they are offensive to Native Americans.
Who’s Got the Best Garden in Chicago’s Bungalow Belt? You Be the Judge
| Patty Wetli
Voting is open through Wednesday for the annual Chicago Bungalow Association’s garden contest.
6 Businesses Fined, Brewery Shut Down for Violating COVID-19 Restrictions
| Heather Cherone
City officials fined six businesses and shut down a West Loop brewery for violating rules designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, officials said Monday.
Police: 64 Shot, 11 Killed as Weekend Violence Continues in Chicago
| Matt Masterson
Chicago’s top cop David Brown is again calling for community partnerships and additional investments in South and West Side neighborhoods after yet another violent weekend that saw dozens of people shot.
US Grapples with Pandemic as Its Origins Are Traced in China
| Associated Press
The United States was grappling with the worst coronavirus outbreak in the world on Monday. Meanwhile, two World Health Organization experts went to China for a mission to trace the origin of the pandemic.
Virus Spread, Not Politics Should Guide Schools, Doctors Say
| Associated Press
As the Trump administration pushes full steam ahead to force schools to resume in-person education, public health experts warn that a one-size-fits-all reopening could drive infection and death rates even higher.
Chicago’s ‘Top Teen’ in 1962 Recalls Hardships That Led to Life’s Work
| Erica Gunderson
When Diane McCoy Lee was named “Top Teen in Public Housing” in a 1962 Chicago Housing Authority contest, she was a straight-A student. But just a few years later, she was a college dropout in an abusive marriage.
954 New COVID-19 Cases as Illinois Tests Nearly 39K in Single Day
New statewide totals: 153,916 cases, 7,187 deaths
| WTTW News
As Illinois nears the 2 million mark in total COVID-19 tests conducted since the start of the pandemic, health officials reported an additional 954 cases of the virus on Sunday — and a record number of specimens tested in a single day.
Artists Nick Cave and Bob Faust Ask Community to Make #AMENDS
| Erica Gunderson
On Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood, reflections on race and racism adorn bright yellow ribbons that rustle in the breeze across from Facility, the creative space and gallery behind a community-based art project.
Trump Wears Mask in Public for First Time During Pandemic
| Associated Press
President Donald Trump wore a mask during a visit to a military hospital on Saturday, the first time he has been seen in public with the type of facial covering recommended by health officials during the pandemic.
New COVID-19 Cases in Illinois Top 1,000 for Third Straight Day
New statewide totals: 152,962 cases, 7,168 deaths
| Nick Blumberg
The Illinois Department of Public Health on Saturday reported an additional 1,195 confirmed cases of the coronavirus since Friday, and 24 more deaths. The positivity rate in Illinois remains relatively stable at 3%.
Trump Commutes Longtime Friend Roger Stone’s Prison Sentence
| Associated Press
President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of his longtime political confidant Roger Stone, intervening in extraordinary fashion in a criminal case that was central to the Russia investigation and that concerned the president’s own conduct.
Chicago’s ‘Movies in the Parks’ Series Returns — But Keep Your Distance
| Nick Blumberg
Chicagoans will get their yearly fix of cinema under the stars despite the coronavirus, the Chicago Park District announced late Friday. The city’s annual “Movies in the Parks” series is a go, with some key public health restrictions in place.
The Week in Review: Lightfoot Unveils Recovery Plan
| Alexandra Silets
An uptick in COVID-19 cases. Will public schools open in the fall? Who Chicago’s top cop is blaming for rising violent crime rates. And Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth takes heat from President Trump.
Pandemic, Racism Compound Worries About Black Suicide Rate
| Associated Press
Health experts have warned of a looming mental health crisis linked to the coronavirus outbreak, and the federal government rolled out a broad anti-suicide campaign. But doctors and researchers say the issues reverberate deeper among Black people.
Have You ‘Herd?’ It’s National Bison Month. Here’s Where They Roam, Close to Home
| Patty Wetli
July is National Bison Month — who knew? Here’s where you can catch buffalo roaming, close to home, in Illinois and Indiana.
Chicago Must ‘Safeguard’ Progress Fighting Coronavirus to Allow Schools to Reopen: Officials
| Heather Cherone
Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said she “broadly” feels confident that schools will be able to offer “some” in-person classes starting in September.
US Bets on Untested Company to Deliver COVID-19 Vaccine
| Associated Press
The Trump administration has agreed to invest more than half a billion in tax dollars in ApiJect Systems America, but its injector is not approved by federal health authorities and the company hasn’t yet set up a factory to manufacture the devices.
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