Illinois Case Count Surges Past 1M
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CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK Illinois case count surges past 1M Pritzker laments ‘tragic milestone’ amid MORE COVERAGE pandemic, urges residents to get vaccine A record 3,865 US By Jamie Munks wreak havoc on our nation — with deaths Wednesday the United States setting another The U.S. registered its highest The number of COVID-19 cases record for the most COVID-19 deaths yet on the very day the in Illinois since the pandemic deaths in a day just yesterday — it mob attack on the Capitol began pushed past the 1 million is critical that we take extra laid bare some of the same, mark on Thursday, double the caution today and in the months deep political divisions that case tally of less than two months ahead to reduce the spread, bring have hampered the battle ago. down hospitalization rates, and against the pandemic. The state on Thursday reported save lives,” Pritzker said in a Nation & World, Page 10 8,757 new and probable cases, statement. raising the total to 1,008,045. Illinois endured a strong surge ■ Aldermen will meet, as Gov. J.B. Pritzker called it a of cases when the pandemic some students return to Chi- “tragic milestone,” and encour- initially took hold last spring, but cago public schools, to debate aged Illinois residents to get the that was ultimately dwarfed by an the specifics of Mayor Lori COVID-19 vaccine when it’s avail- aggressive fall and winter resur- JOSE M. OSORIO/CHICAGO TRIBUNE Lightfoot’s controversial plan able to them. Nurse clinician Vicki Johnson gives ER nurse Tracy Everett her sec- to start getting kids back into “As this disease continues to Turn to Virus, Page 6 ond COVID-19 vaccine at Stroger Hospital on Thursday. classrooms. Page 6 D Questions? Call 1-800-Tribune Friday, January 8, 2021 Breaking news at chicagotribune.com CallforTrump’sremoval Cabinet is urged to invoke 25th Amendment a day after the Capitol riots BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/GETTY-AFP Workers clean damage Thursday near an overrun Capitol Police checkpoint a day after a pro-Trump mob broke into the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday. CAPITOL POLICE RESPONSE MORE COVERAGE President condemns violence, CHICAGOLAND Insiders say federal help rejected; ■ GOP Rep. Kinzinger says he will focus on transition called for the use of the prepared for protest, not revolt Constitution’s 25th Amend- By Lisa Mascaro night to finish counting the ment to remove President and Matthew Daly Electoral College vote confirm- By Colleen Long, and two people familiar with the Trump from office, saying Associated Press ing that Democrat Joe Biden Lolita Baldor matter. he has become “unmoored.” won the presidential election. and Michael Balsamo Capitol Police had planned for ■ Chicago police union WASHINGTON — The vi- But the rampage that shocked Associated Press a free speech demonstration and leader downplays Capitol olent siege of the Capitol by the world and left the country on didn’t need more help, those riot in interview, drawing President Donald Trump’s sup- edge prompted lawmakers to WASHINGTON — Three three told The Associated Press. rebuke from mayor. porters forced painful new ques- launch a congressional review of days before the pro-President The police weren’t expecting tions across government on the U.S. Capitol Police’s failure to Donald Trump riot at the Capi- what actually happened — an NATION & WORLD Thursday — about his fitness to stop the breach and is forcing a tol, the Pentagon asked the U.S insurrection. ■ President Trump has remain in office for two more broader reckoning over Trump’s Capitol Police if it needed Na- But the Capitol ended up suggested to aides he wants weeks, the ability of the police to tenure in office and what comes tional Guard manpower. And as being overrun, overwhelming a to pardon himself in the secure the complex and the next for a torn nation. the mob descended on the build- law enforcement agency sworn final days of his presidency. future of the Republican Party in In a video message released ing Wednesday, Justice Depart- to protect the lawmakers inside. ■ President-elect Biden is a post-Trump era. Thursday evening, Trump said ment leaders reached out to Four protesters died, including denouncing the rioters as In the immediate aftermath, now that Congress has certified offer up FBI agents. The police one who was shot inside the “domestic terrorists” and the attack on the world’s iconic the results, the “new adminis- turned them down both times, blames President Trump dome of democracy reinforced according to a defense official Turn to Response, Page 6 for the Capitol violence. lawmakers’ resolve to stay up all Turn to Capitol, Page 5 Chicago Weather Center: Complete $2.50 city and suburbs, $3.00 elsewhere Tom Skilling’s forecast High 36 Low 30 forecast on back page of A+E section 173rd year No. 8 © Chicago Tribune DIGITAL WOW DIGITAL WOW 1.99 DIGITAL DIGITAL –1.00 C C DIGITAL COUPON C C WOW Loyalty Program Savings O O WHEN______ YOU BUY 2 O O 99¢ ¢ 6.99 Fiora 3.99 –50¢ EA –2.00 –1.00 Create account on tonysfreshmarket.com U DIGITAL COUPON U 99Y2 U DIGITAL COUPON U Bath Tissue DIGITAL COUPON ______ WHEN YOU BU ______ ______ 1 WITH 12 Roll or or on the Tony’s App P 12 Ct. P 10.4-12 Oz. P 150 Oz. P ¢ DIGITAL COUPON WOW 99 Paper 99 US Grade A General Mills Purex Towels Clip Digital Coupons to your account O Large Eggs 49WITH OHoney Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast O 4 WITH O 2 WITH 2 AVE Crunch, Trix, Cocoa Puffs, Golden Detergent 6 Roll CLIP &S LIMIT 1 DIGITAL COUPON Grahams, Reeses Puffs, Cheerios LIMIT 2 DIGITAL COUPON DIGITAL COUPON ONLY ON N N N LIMIT 1 NLIMIT 1 3 Redeem at Register by entering your TONY’S APP OR phone number TONYSFRESHMARKET.COM OFFERS VALID 1-6-2021 THRU 1-12-2021 TONYSFRESHMARKET.COM 2 Chicago Tribune | Section 1 | Friday, January 8, 2021 ComEd sued in federal court over alleged scheme to bribe Madigan By Jason Meisner any additional money re- Wednesday that while the The suit comes two ceived because of the conduct admitted in the months after prosecutors The Citizens Utility scheme — an omission that bribery case cannot be ex- charged former ComEd Board watchdog group has the Citizens Utility Board cused, it “does not mean lobbyist Michael McClain, filed a lawsuit in federal seeks to address through its that consumers were 73, who is one of Madigan’s court accusing Common- suit. harmed by the legislation closest confidants, with wealth Edison of “unjust The lawsuit also said that that was passed in Illinois,” bribery conspiracy for al- enrichment” and betraying the legislation passed due which was bipartisan and legedly quarterbacking the its customers by orchestrat- to ComEd’s illegal scheme “resulted in substantial scheme. ing a bribery scheme to has hit its customers par- benefits for ComEd’s cus- Also charged in the 50- influence House Speaker ticularly hard this year as tomers.” page indictment were for- Michael Madigan and pass the pandemic continues to Among the legislation mer ComEd CEO Anne legislation the utility wreak havoc on finances. passed during the time of Pramaggiore, 62, of Bar- wanted in Springfield. “While utility consum- the alleged scheme was a rington; lobbyist and for- The 13-page complaint, ers would always have been smart-grid overhaul in 2011 mer ComEd executive filed late Tuesday as part of harmed by unfairly high and a bailout of the nuclear John Hooker, 71, of Chi- an ongoing proposed class rates, the harm is particu- power plants in downstate cago; and Jay Doherty, 67, a action suit against ComEd, larly acute this year, as Clinton and the Quad Cities consultant and former head seeks millions in restitution hundreds of thousands of in 2016, with consumers of the City Club of Chicago. from the utility giant to be Illinoisans have lost their footing the bill. All four defendants have paid directly to customers jobs due to the coronavirus ComEd claimed in its pleaded not guilty. allegedly harmed by its pandemic,” the suit stated. statement Wednesday that Madigan has not been decadelong scheme. “Many Illinois residents those measures have led to accused of wrongdoing and ComEd admitted to the and businesses have fallen 70% improved reliability in vehemently defended his facts of the bribery scheme behind on their utility bills. service and “billions of dol- record. in a deferred prosecution ComEd, meanwhile, con- lars in savings for custom- The Citizens Utility agreement with federal tinues to reap the benefits ers.” Board complaint is atta- prosecutors in July, agree- of its nearly decadelong The utility in November ched to an ongoing lawsuit ing to pay a record $200 scheme — even after admit- also announced a new fi- filed last year by a Downers million fine and cooperate ting what it has done.” nancial-assistance program Grove resident alleging with the ongoing probe in Among the lawyers rep- that offers $300 grants to ComEd, Madigan and oth- exchange for bribery resenting the utility board help low-income residen- ers participated in a con- charges being dropped af- in the litigation is former tial customers and others spiracy that defrauded cus- THE NEW BEARS BOOK ter three years. Gov. Pat Quinn, who helped financially affected by the tomers out of millions of The deal with the U.S. found CUB in the early pandemic reduce their dollars. “The Chicago Tribune Book of the Chicago Bears: A attorney’s office, however, 1980s, court records show. past-due bills. ComEd has Decade-By-Decade History, 2nd ed.” The Tribune’s does not require ComEd to In an emailed statement, until Feb.