Daywatch: Chicago activists, politicians praise Derek Chauvin guilty verdict, some Illinois hospitals are filling up and meet an 18-year-old restaurant owner
Good morning, Chicago. On Tuesday, Illinois public health officials reported 2,587 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 9 additional deaths. Officials also reported that were 81,963 doses of the vaccine administered Monday. The seven-day rolling average of daily doses is 122,531.
Meanwhile, travelers from two of Illinois’ neighboring states are no longer subject to Chicago’s COVID-19 restrictions as of this week, but Indiana could be added back to the city’s travel order list later if its cases do not go down. Here are the details.
Here’s more coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
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Derek Chauvin verdict: Former Minneapolis officer found guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd
Former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man’s neck in a case that touched off worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S.
Dahleen Glanton column: Derek Chauvin’s conviction is a big step toward criminal justice reform. But the ‘blue wall’ is still standing.
President Biden says verdict in Derek Chauvin trial can be a ‘giant step forward’ in the fight against systemic racism
Chicago activists and politicians praise guilty verdict in George Floyd murder but differ on what comes next
As people celebrated in the streets of Minneapolis following Derek Chauvin’s murder conviction Tuesday, Chicago activists and politicians praised the verdict as an important step toward achieving justice for people of color while offering different views on what comes next.
Chicago activists condemn Lightfoot’s National Guard request ahead of Derek Chauvin trial verdict, demand charges be dropped against protesters arrested in Logan Square march
Some Illinois hospitals are filling up as COVID-19 cases surge, making ICU beds in tight supply
A number of hospitals in northwest and central Illinois are filling up — and at least one ran out of intensive care unit beds — amid the latest COVID-19 surge.
The spike in cases is being felt across the state, including in the Chicago area where ICU bed availability is also down, though not as severely.
Officials see ‘real signs of progress’ as some COVID-19 metrics improve in Illinois
With everyone 16 and up now vaccine-eligible, Chicago-area high schools look to help students get their shots
‘If you want a scary story:’ Agriculture, human health and ecosystems at risk as Illinois’ climate is quickly changing, report shows.
Illinois’ climate is swiftly changing, becoming warmer and wetter and signaling long-term shifts that could push people, cities and ecosystems to the brink. If the planet fails to curb greenhouse gas emissions, what’s ahead could be more worrisome.
In an extensive new report released Tuesday, the Nature Conservancy details how Illinois’ climate has transformed and looks forward to what more change might mean for the state’s agriculture, human health and already-stressed ecosystems.
What might be ahead for birds, fish and trees facing Illinois’ changing climate
Meet the 18-year-old owner of Peke’s Pozole, who runs his family restaurant while still in high school. ‘Truth is, he was made for this.’
Jonathan Macedo got his start at 15, at Peke’s Pozole, his family’s small restaurant on Pulaski Road in Archer Heights, waiting tables, arranging contracts with vendors, seating customers, filing paperwork, cooking. In November, after his 18th birthday, his parents signed the restaurant ownership over to him. If you met him, you probably would, too, the Tribune’s Christopher Borrelli writes.
