Good morning, Chicago.
Just days after hundreds of thousands festivalgoers crowded together in Grant Park for Lollapalooza, health officials across the state are urging attendees to get tested
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for coronavirus. The comments come as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Illinois, with the daily infections recorded yesterday surpassing 3,000 for the first time since early May.Meanwhile, in vaccine news, Moderna released a statement yesterday saying its vaccine’s protection does not wane after six months. Executives for the company also said they anticipate that boosters would be necessary this fall to contend with the delta variant.
And in Tokyo, the U.S. rhythmic gymnastics team — who all train in a park district building in Deerfield — made history at the Olympics, while an Itasca decathlete fell just short of the medal stand in the sweltering heat. The women of Team USA are flexing their muscles, winning gold in beach volleyball … and there’s a strong possibility of more in volleyball and basketball this weekend. And perhaps the biggest development: That sumo statue that was scaring horses in the equestrian ring is now gone. It’s the last few days of competition before Sunday’s closing ceremony: See who has won medals for Team USA, keep tabs on our 60-plus local Olympians and stay current with Day 14 events here.
— Nicole Stock, audience editor
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Chicago police officer who shot man in CTA Red Line station in 2020 is hit with criminal charges
It was a shooting by a police officer in a busy CTA station downtown last year, scattering Red Line commuters at rush hour and leaving the Chicago Police Department to again confront the conduct of some of its own captured on a viral video.
On Thursday the officer who fired at a man during a lengthy struggle on the Grand Avenue platform was hit with felony criminal charges, still a rarity in Chicago. Melvina Bogard is the first Chicago cop in about five years to face criminal charges stemming from using a weapon while on duty.
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A federal judge on Thursday has denied a request to halt construction on the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago — stifling the latest attempt by a group that has long opposed the upcoming site’s location in the storied Jackson Park on the South Side.
Clinics for COVID-19 long-haulers are popping up across the Chicago area, as hospital systems grapple with how to treat patients who have lingering or new symptoms after the virus — a more common problem than many people realize.
Anywhere from about 10% to 30% of people who get COVID-19 seem to have symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, brain fog and headaches for weeks or months afterward, scientists and doctors have found. The idea behind the clinics is to help patients figure out which doctors to visit and when, and to make it easier for them to see physicians accustomed to treating people following COVID-19.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon told the Tribune he isn’t worried the recent rise in COVID-19 cases will slow the economic recovery from the pandemic. It’s also not slowing the company’s return to the office, despite moves by other major employers in recent days to hit the brakes.
The Chicago Cubs are one step closer to hosting legal sports betting at Wrigley Field after getting approval Thursday from the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to build a proposed two-story sportsbook adjacent to the historic ballpark.