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Good morning, Chicago. Here’s the coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
Illinois reported 980 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, the highest daily total in more than a month. Officials also announced 36 more deaths.
The positivity rate for the state’s Northeast region — which includes Chicago and its suburbs — inched up slightly to 4.3%. Here’s where each region stands on key COVID-19 metrics.
Meanwhile, the U.S. hit 3 million COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, though health officials say the real number is likely 10 times higher.
Pritzker calls for national mask mandate and COVID-19 containment strategy
Gov. J.B. Pritzker called for a national mask mandate, a national containment strategy for COVID-19 and additional federal aid for states to offset large revenue losses created by the pandemic in testimony before a Congressional committee Wednesday.
The mask mandate that took effect in Illinois May 1 “aligns with our most significant downward shifts in our infection rate,” Pritzker said. “It’s not too late for the federal government to make an impact. In fact, it’s more important than ever.”
Pritzker’s testimony came as Americans confront a resurgence of the coronavirus after four months, 3 million confirmed infections and over 130,000 deaths.
Also on Wednesday, Pritzker announced that more than 500 Illinois National Guard members will end their missions at 11 state-run COVID-19 testing sites this month.
Despite Trump’s push for schools to reopen, Lightfoot says the decision should be local
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday said the question of whether schools should reopen this fall must be a local decision, and she doesn’t put much thought into what President Donald Trump says, adding that it’s ironic for a Republican to advocate against individual states’ rights.
“Making some broad declaration at the federal level and ignoring the particular circumstances of a locality, where they are … what their plans are, eliminating the possibility for some kind of a hybrid model, that doesn’t make any sense,” Lightfoot said, adding that the city doesn’t know what’s going to happen in September.
Determined to reopen America’s schools despite coronavirus worries, Trump threatened to hold back federal money if districts don’t bring students back in the fall.
Column: Trump wants kids in school this fall. So do I, but not under the current COVID-19 conditions.
For some storied retailers, COVID-19 was ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’
Many of America’s storied retailers already were facing big challenges, but the COVID-19 pandemic has hastened difficult decisions that will mean job losses and empty storefronts in the Chicago area and elsewhere.
Chains with deep roots are filing bankruptcy. Others have sped up plans to close underperforming stores. And unlike in past retail reckonings, the list of tenants that might be interested in filling those spaces likely has shrunk. Here’s how some retailers are dealing with the economic fallout of the pandemic.
Meanwhile in the airline industry, United is sending layoff warnings to 36,000 employees — nearly half its U.S. workforce.
Chicago summer already setting records as 25th anniversary of 1995 killer heat wave looms
Summer in the Chicago area has been warmer than normal, and we could be in for several more weeks of sweltering weather. But as the 25th anniversary of Chicago’s deadliest weather event on record approaches, nothing in the forecast looks as bad as 1995.
As Chicago experiences an extended heat wave, it’s important to watch out for signs of heat stroke and other heat illnesses. Here are some tips.
The Blackhawks name, logo and imagery have come under increased scrutiny again this month because other sports teams have started reviews into possibly changing their names. Native American advocates, however, don’t all agree about the Blackhawks name, saying their case is more nuanced.
Column: The Blackhawks are keeping their nickname. The decision walks — in the team’s own words — “a fine line between respect and disrespect.”
