Afternoon Edition: Sept. 18, 2020

Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.

Happy Friday! This afternoon will be sunny and cool, with a high near 62 degrees. Tonight’s low will be around 49 degrees. And a beautiful weekend is in the forecast: tomorrow will be sunny with a high near 64 degrees, and we’ll get more sunshine on Sunday, along with a high of 69 degrees.

Top story

We asked: How has the pandemic affected you financially? Some of the answers were heartbreaking.

When the pandemic came, it hit them hard.

Some lost their full-time work, or the second or part-time jobs they counted on for income, or their 401(k) match amid the coronavirus shutdowns that wreaked havoc on the economy and on their personal finances, too.

Now, they’re carefully considering every dollar they spend, making sure the lights are shut off, turning to food banks to ensure they’ll have enough for their families’ next meal.

Some are having tough conversations with family, friends or employers, asking for help with rent or other bills. Others are rethinking their retirement plans, figuring they’ll have to work a couple more years to make up for what they’ve lost in the year of the coronavirus.

Others were lucky, able to keep their jobs and work from home during the shelter-in-place order. They, too, worry about what’s to come, but feel fortunate to be in the position they’re in.

About half of Chicago households surveyed for a recent poll conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said the impact of COVID-19 has left them facing serious financial problems, with Black and Latino families particularly hard-hit.

So we asked our readers: How has the pandemic affected you financially? Many wrote in and agreed to follow-up interviews. One was Sherronda Bohanon, 46, who works as a Head Start teacher with toddlers who can’t wear masks. To protect herself, she wears one, plus a face shield.

“At this point, I’m OK, I’m fine. It worries me, it stresses me out every day, but so far so good,” she says of not having contracted COVID-19.

Financially, though, Bohanon, who lives on the South Side in Park Manor, says she’s hurting. She was driving for Uber to make enough money to get by. But she shares a home with her elderly mother and figured it wasn’t worth the risk of infection for her to be so exposed and potentially get her mother sick. She said losing that second income means she can barely afford the basics.

“Everything, I’m on a payment plan — my cell phone, my car insurance, my car. I got a new car before the pandemic started because I didn’t know how bad it was going to be. That’s it. I really can’t afford food, I can’t afford extras.”

She goes to a food bank and to Sam’s Club for groceries in bulk.

“It’s a little tight,” she said. ‘That’s the best way I can say it.”

Many others shared their stories with us. Read them here.

More news you need

1. A Chicago doctor is suing his business partner, accusing her of “looting” more than $3.7 million from their business to finance an “extravagant lifestyle” and to lavish Ald. George Cardenas with luxurious trips, an expensive watch and more. Cardenas had been hired to drum up business for Omni Medical Student Training, but he had little success, according to the suit.
2. Unlike Ald. Edward M. Burke and former state Sen. Martin Sandoval, political operative Victor Reyes hasn’t been charged with any crime. But he or one of his firms has come onto the radar of federal authorities in two of the cases they’re investigating, records show.
3. Dozens flocked to a south suburban church this morning to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of DaJore Wilson, the 8-year-old girl who was shot and killed in Canaryville earlier this month. DaJore was murdered near 47th Street and Union Avenue in the early evening hours of Sept. 7.
4. Pickpocketing’s a dying art, experts say. But police have been after a three-man crew of pickpockets — all in their 60s — working the subways and L platforms with rap sheets dating to the 1970s. Police say they caught the crew on CTA surveillance cameras stalking victims.
5. Frank Zuccari, a third-generation art restorer revered at major museums worldwide for his work on Old Masters and who oversaw the two-year El Greco restoration at the Art Institute, died of bile-duct cancer last month at his Chicago home. He was 70.

A bright one

Justin Bieber joined by Chance the Rapper for ‘Holy’ song, short film

Chicago’s Chance the Rapper is featured in Justin Bieber’s new song, “Holy,” and the accompanying short film that stars Wilmer Valderrama and Ryan Destiny, directed by Colin Tilley.

“Holy” is an emotionally charged, ultimately uplifting gospel-tinged ballad. The film features Bieber as an oil driller and Destiny as a nursing home employee — a hardworking couple soon derailed by hardship who find hope in each other and a soldier (Valderrama) they meet on the road.

On Twitter, Bieber heralded the song, proclaiming “The new era begins. We made a movie.” His longtime manager Scooter Braun also took to Twitter, writing there is “so much more to come you have no idea.”

Bieber and Chance have performed at Kanye West’s Sunday Service concerts. Their previous music collaborations include “I’m The One,” “Juke Jam” and “No Brainer.”

Bieber will hit the road next year for his rescheduled world tour (postponed from 2020 due to COVID) with 19 new stops including two dates in Chicago at the United Center.

Read Miriam Di Nunzio’s full story here.

From the press box

The Bears defense, which had a pretty terrible game against the Lions last week, hopes to bounce back Sunday against the Giants (noon, CBS-2). And running back Tarki Cohen is determined to reclaim his spot as a vital part of the Bears offense. However it works out, no fans will see the game in person Sunday or anytime soon. Our Bears experts preview Week 2 in the Halas Intrigue podcast.

Despite the obstacles facing him, Coby White intends to be the Bulls’ starting point guard.

With the White Sox already in the playoffs and the Cubs expected to join them, this short baseball season has been memorable for Chicago fans, Steve Greenberg writes.

The Cubs are home for a three-game series against the Twins. Friday and Saturday’s games are on Marquee Sports Network, and Sunday night’s game is at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

The White Sox will play the Reds in Cincinnati. Saturday’s game will be at 6 p.m. on Fox-32, Friday and Sunday’s games are on NBC Sports Chicago.

The Fire face Orlando at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on WGN-9, and the Red Stars go against Sky Blue at noon Sunday on CBS All Access.

Your daily question ☕

What’s the first thing you usually do to kick off your weekend?

Email us (please include your first name and where you live) and we might include your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

Yesterday, we asked you: What’s something about summer 2020 that you’ll miss? Here’s what some of you said…

“I love the fall, but I will miss summer — all of it. I will miss leaves on the trees, flowers, my balcony garden, sitting outside, taking a walk, and just enjoying the warm, welcoming, comforting air.” — Sharon Laspesa

“Not having a million things to do on the weekends like a typical summer and just getting to enjoy quality time with my daughter and husband. If 2020 has taught me anything it is to enjoy the gift of quality time with nowhere to rush off too.” — Carna Shea

“My wife not having to work weekends at a restaurant. We’ve been camping six times.” — Barry Ballew

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