Chicago Weekend Citizen 5-20-2020 by CITIZEN NEWSPAPERS

Y O U R S O U R C E F O R C O R O N AV I R U S N E W S

Citizen The Citizen: Serving The Black Community For 55 Years Week of May 20, 2020

| Vol. 51 | No. 21 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

CHICAGO WEEKEND

EEOC Updates COVID-19 Technical Assistance Publication Page 3

Veterans, Active Duty Military And Social Isolation Page 3

Three new credits available to many businesses hit by COVID-19 Page 4

South Side developer thriving despite COVID-19, thanks to pipeline offered by Cook County Land Bank Authority Page 5

Congressman Danny K. Davis introduced legislation that would enable low and moderate-income students to have internet access and the ability to purchase a computer through a tax credit. Photo courtesy of Congressman Danny K. Davis

LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE TECH ACCESS FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS With COVID-19 causing school districts across the country to move toward remote learning for the rest of the school year, students without computers or internet access would miss out on critical learning opportunities. PAGE 2

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2 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of May 20, 2020

NEWS

Legislation introduced to provide tech access for low-income students Continued from page 1 BY TIA CAROL JONES

With COVID-19 causing school districts across the country to move toward remote learning for the rest of the school year, students without computers or internet access would miss out on critical learning opportunities. To combat this, Congressman Danny K. Davis, D-Dist. 7, introduced the Computer and Internet Access Equity Act. The legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a $10,000 lifetime tax credit for low-income and moderate-income families to purchase computers and other equipment for educational purposes.

It would also modify requirements for the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline program to provide increased support for broadband internet service, as well as provide grants for non-for-profits to give internet safety instruction. “These huge gaps exist in healthcare, but also in terms of economics, education and all of the positive aspects of life,” Davis said. “The primary way of getting [a] formal education is through the use of technology, computers, broadband, internet. If you’re low-income and don’t have a computer, and you’ve got to have one to go online to be in class or to do what’s necessary, then you’re actually left out.” Davis said the goal of the legislation is to reduce the digital poverty

divide and create the opportunity for low and moderate-income young people, as well as older people, to have access to computer equipment needed for them to compete and to be able to participate in distance learning. The tax credit would be available to families who make less than $70,000. “In this country, poverty, poor people, low- income people have always had a hard time, but they’re having an even harder time,” he said. “If you’re receiving SNAP benefits, the chances may be pretty good that you don’t have enough money or enough resources to purchase your own individual computer. So, how do you learn, how do you go to school?” According to the Pew Research Center, while 58 percent of eight graders in the United States use a computer to complete their homework, low and moderate-income, as well as minority students, use

cellphones, public wi-fi, or are unable to do their homework. It also showed that 17 percent of United States teens are unable to complete their homework at all. It is often referred to as the digital homework gap. Davis said he and the other Congressmen and Congresswoman who signed onto the legislation, are excited about it, adding the legislation will enable students to be able to compete with other students who have more resources and who come from families with higher incomes. This goes beyond the coronavirus pandemic, Davis said. Even when the virus is arrested and once the virus poses less of a threat than it does now, “low income people still need access to the technology age,” he said. “And, if you don’t have money, you don’t have a job, you’re unemployed, one of the best ways we think you can get this equipment is to use the tax credit we’re talking about.”

briefly EDUCATION ANNUAL ONLINE FORENSIC SYMPOSIUM SERIES The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education (CFSRE) and Symposium Founder/Organizer, Tom Gluodenis, Ph.D., have entered a collaborative agreement to develop and host an expanded series of events under the highly acclaimed Online Forensic Symposium: Current Trends brand. Established in 2018 as a means of providing affordable, accessible, and impactful continuing education to the international forensic community, the event has since reached over 2,000 practitioners, researchers, students and educators in over 63 countries. This year’s Current Trends Symposium Series will offer free, week long programs addressing topics in Forensic Toxicology (starting June 8th), Forensic Trace Analysis (starting July 29th), and Seized Drug Analysis (starting October 26th). For more information, visit www.forensicsymposium.org.

HEALTH

NEW STUDY FINDS OXALOACETATE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERS PMS MOOD SYMPTOMS Terra Biological LLC reports a new study, peerreviewed and published by the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Science, finds that daily intake of oxaloacetate (OAA) significantly relieves Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)-related mood symptoms within the first menstrual cycle. The randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study led by Lisa Tully, Ph.D., reports that the four core mood symptoms associated with PMS, anxiety, irritability, stress and gloomy mood, were all significantly reduced compared to placebo after daily intake of 200 milligrams of oxaloacetate, an over-the-counter dietary supplement. www.citizennewspapergroup.com

In response to the clinical trial results, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed OAA manufacturers to include the structure/function claim of “Oxaloacetate may help alleviate the mild to moderate psychological and/or behavioral symptoms associated with Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).”

LAW & POLITICS

SECRETARY OF COMMERCE ALLOCATES $300 MILLION IN CARES ACT AID TO U.S. FISHERMEN AND SEAFOOD INDUSTRIES IMPACTED BY COVID-19 Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross recently announced the allocation of $300 million in economic relief to U.S. fishermen and seafood industries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were allocated as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), signed into law on March 27 by President Trump. Commercial fishing, charter/for-hire businesses, qualified aquaculture operations, processors, and parts of the seafood sector in coastal states and territories are among those eligible to apply for funds. Tribes are also eligible for funding including for any negative impacts to subsistence, cultural, or ceremonial fisheries. The Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will work with the three Interstate Marine Fishery Commissions, organizations with a demonstrated track record of success in disbursing funds, to quickly deliver financial assistance into the hands of those who need it. In addition to these funds, the President recently signed into law other Federal financial assistance programs, including several programs at the Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture, that can provide help to fishermen and related businesses.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of May 20, 2020

NEWS

Helping Veterans and Active Duty Military Cope With Social Isolation StatePoint - As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of veterans and active duty military personnel are on lockdown, many suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or substance abuse. With the additional challenge of social isolation, finding ways to combat depression, anxiety and loneliness is critical. That is why Help Heal Veterans (Heal Vets), a nonprofit founded during the Vietnam War, has gone into overdrive, shipping more than 90,000 free craft kits since the beginning of the pandemic and creating a newly designed kit to help veterans make the masks they need to stay healthy and safe. Operating on the principle that not all medicine comes in a bottle, Heal Vets distributes kits in craft categories like masks, leatherwork, models, woodwork, jewelry, paintby-numbers, needlecrafts, poster art, scrapbooks and more. Crafting can provide therapeutic and rehabilitative benefits, including improving fine motor skills, cognitive functioning, memory and dexterity, and can help alleviate feelings of anger and the severity of negative behaviors triggered by PTSD and TBIs. With demands flooding in due to the COVID-19 pandemic, kits have been distributed to more than

90 Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers around the country and a large number of military bases, state veteran homes and other locations where the need is great. “The coronavirus is overwhelming, but being alone in a pandemic crisis can be terrifying and deeply debilitating,” says Joe McClain, retired Navy captain and Help Heal Veterans CEO. “Our goal is to give our veterans what they need to heal during this time of enforced isolation.” In a recent survey of vets, 94 percent of those polled who use Heal Vets craft kits said the kits helped them have a more positive outlook on life, and 98 percent said the kits took their mind off problems. With many of the nation’s veterans labeled high-risk now in lockdown with little contact from others, (no visitors, no family allowed, no volunteers and limited staff interaction), it is particularly important to address suicide prevention, according to McClain. “We’re working closely with the VA Suicide Program to start including VA-produced suicide prevention awareness and education material with our kits,” he says. “Our concern is that during this time of increased stress from isolation and financial uncertainty, some veterans may be at higher risk of taking their own life.

Anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges can be exacerbated during this quarantine period. Luckily, there are tangible ways to support isolated and sick veterans in their most significant time of need.

We are hoping to raise awareness and improve access to craft therapy kits to help mitigate that risk.” To learn more about Heal Vets and the organization’s COVID-19 efforts, as well as find out how you can help, visit HealVets.org. Anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges can be exacerbated during this quarantine period. Luckily, there are tangible ways to support isolated and sick veterans in their most significant time of need.

EEOC Updates COVID-19 Technical Assistance Publication The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently posted an updated and expanded technical assistance publication addressing questions arising under the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The publication, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws” expands on a previous publication that focused on the ADA and Rehabilitation Act. The newly added questions and answers, G.3, G.4., and G.5., provide information about the accommodation of employees with underlying medical conditions. The answer to G.4. was revised after initial posting to clarify that the ADA does not allow exclusion of employees simply because they have an underlying medical condition that the CDC says might pose a higher risk of severe illness if the individual contracts COVID-19. “It is important that employers understand that the ADA does not allow them to act against employees solely because the employee has a CDC-listed underlying medical condition,” said Legal Counsel Andrew Maunz.

“Employers must do a thorough direct threat analysis, which includes an individualized assessment based on relevant factors and a determination of whether the threat can be reduced or eliminated through a reasonable accommodation.” EEOC’s publication had already addressed workplace screening and exclusion permitted of those who pose a direct threat to others due to having COVID-19 or symptoms and could transmit it to others. Questions G.4. and G.5 address the direct threat to self that an employer would have to meet to exclude someone from the workplace due to a CDC-identified underlying medical condition. In response to inquiries from the public, the EEOC has provided resources on its website related to the pandemic in an employment context. The agency will continue to monitor developments and provide assistance to the public as needed. The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. www.citizennewspapergroup.com

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BUSINESS

IRS: Three new credits are available to many businesses hit by COVID-19 The Internal Revenue Service is reminding employers affected by COVID-19 about three important new credits available to them. Employee Retention Credit: The employee retention credit is designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19. The credit is available to all employers regardless of size, including tax-exempt organizations. There are only two exceptions: State and local governments and their instrumentalities and small businesses who take small business loans.

Qualifying employers must fall into one of two categories: 1. The employer’s business is fully or partially suspended by government order due to COVID-19 during the calendar quarter. 2. The employer’s gross receipts are below 50% of the comparable quarter in 2019. Once the employer’s gross receipts go above 80% of a comparable quarter in 2019, they no longer qualify after the end of that quarter. Employers will calculate these measures each calendar quarter. Paid Sick Leave Credit and Family Leave Credit: The paid sick leave credit is designed to allow businesses to get a credit for an employee who is unable

to work (including telework) because of Coronavirus quarantine or self-quarantine or has Coronavirus symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis. Those employees are entitled to paid sick leave for up to 10 days (up to 80 hours) at the employee’s regular rate of pay up to $511 per day and $5,110 in total. The employer can also receive the credit for employees who are unable to work due to caring for someone with Coronavirus or caring for a child because the child’s school or place of care is closed, or the paid childcare provider is unavailable due to the Coronavirus. Those employees are entitled to paid sick leave for up to two weeks (up to 80 hours) at 2/3 the employee’s regular rate of pay or, up to $200 per day and $2,000 in total. Employees are also entitled to paid family and medical leave equal to 2/3 of the employee’s regular pay, up to $200 per day and $10,000 in total. Up to 10 weeks of qualifying leave can be counted towards the family leave credit. Employers can be immediately reimbursed for the credit by reducing their required deposits of payroll taxes that have been withheld from employees’ wages by the amount of the credit. Eligible employers are entitled to immediately receive a credit in the full amount of the required sick leave and family leave, plus related health plan expenses and the employer’s share of Medicare tax on the leave, for the period of April 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2020. The refundable credit is applied against certain employment taxes on wages

The IRS has posted Employee Retention Credit FAQs and Paid Family Leave and Sick Leave FAQs that will help answer questions.

paid to all employees. How will employers receive the credit? Employers can be immediately reimbursed for the credit by reducing their required deposits of payroll taxes that have been withheld from employees’ wages by the amount of the credit. Eligible employers will report their total qualified wages and the related health insurance costs for each quarter on their quarterly employment tax returns or Form 941 beginning with the second quarter. If the employer’s employment tax deposits are not sufficient to

cover the credit, the employer may receive an advance payment from the IRS by submitting Form 7200, Advance Payment of Employer Credits Due to COVID-19. Eligible employers can also request an advance of the Employee Retention Credit by submitting Form 7200. The IRS has also posted Employee Retention Credit FAQs and Paid Family Leave and Sick Leave FAQs that will help answer questions. Updates on the implementation of the Employee Retention Credit and other information can be found on the Coronavirus page of IRS.gov.

AT&T and Cisco Make Cloud Voice Capabilities Accessible for More Businesses AT&T and Cisco recently introduced Webex Calling with AT&T aimed at expanding access to cloud-based phone capabilities. At a time when staying connected is both vital and challenging, it can help more businesses transform their voice communications to better adapt to evolving needs using AT&T’s network. “In an instant, business-

es are being confronted with business continuity and remote workforce challenges head-on. Until now, many haven’t needed the expertise or capabilities to keep critical operations moving in this situation,” says Rich Shaw, vice president, voice

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and collaboration for AT&T Business. “During a time when ‘the office’ is more disparate than ever, Webex Calling with AT&T gives businesses an affordable, flexible tool for staying connected to customers, partners and employees during uncertain times.” Built on the Webex Calling platform, it provides even more ways to connect

by including access to Webex Teams™ for business calling, meetings, and team collaboration, according to a press release. Webex Calling with AT&T includes free on-network calls, unlimited U.S. domestic toll calling and 1,000 minutes of toll-free calling. For more information, please visit www.att.com/ webexcalling.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of May 20, 2020

NEWS South Side developer thriving despite COVID-19, thanks to pipeline offered by Cook County Land Bank Authority The mortgage crisis of 2008 put real estate developer Keith Lindsey, founder and CEO of Solar Energy Construction, out of business for four years. But this time around, Lindsey’s business is thriving, in spite of the COVID-19 crisis. A general contractor for more than 20 years, Lindsey recently sold two single-family homes in Englewood since the pandemic hit Chicago, and he is now rehabbing a six-unit Englewood building that will be discounted housing for veterans in honor of his father, a veteran who died last year. He credits his success to being smarter with money, plus the Cook County Land Bank Authority’s vast pool of low-priced abandoned properties, tailor-made for small local developers. “You learn from your mistakes,” said Lindsey, who has been back in business for five years. “You learn what not to do. You’re just smarter with money. And having a pipeline with the Land Bank makes it easy to keep going.”

Lindsey is one of several small developers who is putting bids on the 250 abandoned, vacant properties that the Cook County Land Bank Authority recently released for sale on its website: http://www.cookcountylandbank.org/. In spite of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Land Bank is receiving more applications for its abandoned properties now – about 30 each day –than this time last year. Last year, the Land Bank averaged 300 applications a month from developers vying for its properties. “Understandably, there’s a fair amount of trepidation among some small developers because of tighter lending criteria from banks, making it harder for small developers to get new loans to acquire property,” said Rob Rose, executive director of the Cook County Land Bank Authority. “But many of our developer clients are optimistic that transactions can move forward. The pandemic is not slowing down rehabs or new applications for our properties. For those small real

estate developers who are well-capitalized, this economy presents a great opportunity to acquire property and revitalize communities.” “I believe if you buy something very cheap and you put your good love in it and make it affordable, I think it will sale, I don’t care where it is,” Lindsey said. “Right now, with the interest rates being low, it’s cheaper to own than rent. So you should give people what they want to buy.” The Cook County Land Bank Authority, an independent agency of Cook County, acquires properties that have sat tax‐delinquent, abandoned or vacant for years and

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sells them at below‐market rates to qualified community‐based developers who rehab the properties. Since its inception in 2013, the Land Bank has worked with more than 400 small developers to rehab more than 600 single family homes and generate $77 million dollars in community wealth. “The Land Bank offers a very fair program for small developers,” Lindsey said. “They make you crawl before you walk. They come and make sure your rehab work is up to par. It’s a very nice opportunity that came to Chicago, and for me, personally, the Land Bank changed my life.”

Keith Lindsey, founder and CEO of Solar Energy Construction, inside the Englewood building that he’s rehabbing and converting into discounted housing for veterans. Lindsey acquired the building from the Cook County Land Bank Authority. Photo provided.

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DIVERSITY IN CLINICAL TRIALS BRINGS NEW TREATMENTS TO EVERYONE. Participation in clinical trials not only helps patients gain access to new medical therapies but also advances knowledge about how treatments work safely and effectively in the diverse communities represented in those clinical trials. Visit medicalheroes.org to learn more. A sincere thank you to everyone who participates in clinical research from the following sponsors:

SubjectWell

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of May 20, 2020

Advertorial

Shauna Whisenton - Credit: Sarah Grille / Mesa7

How a Clinical Trial Participant Became an Advocate for the Sickle Cell Community

Shauna Whisenton was once an individual living with sickle cell disease (SCD). Now she’s an advocate for better therapies, a cure, and better understanding of SCD. Whisenton was born with SCD, a painful, inherited disorder where red blood cells are misshaped, restricting blood flow and oxygen to parts of the body. “It was all going pretty well until I had my third son,” she says. “Then my health started to take a turn for the worse.” While nursing, she was admitted to the hospital every few weeks and despite best efforts, was not replenishing enough fluids for her body to function properly and had major organ complications. Her doctor asked her to consider a bone marrow transplant clinical trial to cure SCD. She didn’t believe she could be cured and some members of her family were unsure she should undergo the treatment. For many in the minority community, there is a fear that medical testing may exploit patients instead of helping them. However, clinical trial oversights ensure safety during participation. After consulting an SCD patient advocate, she realized, “Although a cure is not guaranteed, this could be an amazing opportunity. If that is not possible for me, researchers could learn something from my participation to save others.”

Finding a donor

The best chance for a donor match would be a family member. Whisenton lost her parents

when she was a child and her sister wasn’t a match; but her nine-year-old son, Dorian was a 50% match. A successful transplant meant a better life for Whisenton and her family. “I felt like my children had suffered enough watching my pain,” she says. Whisenton’s son had marrow extracted from his pelvis bone. It was a one-day procedure for him but the start of a two-year ordeal for his mother.

Journey

Whisenton’s journey was tough. She was hospitalized, receiving anti-rejection medications and had to undergo chemotherapy. She persevered with support from family and medical team. For her, treatment beyond the transplant was an important part of procedure preparation and recovery. This included coordinated care to provide relief from the symptoms of her disease and the transplant, including pain and detoxing from opiates, but also the physical and mental stress from the procedure. “It’s important to equip someone who’s received a curative therapy with tools to rebuild their lives

during and after recovery,” she says. Within nine months of receiving the bone marrow transplant, Whisenton received the news that she was SCD free and now only carries the trait. Now, 10 years later, her transplant was a complete success. Whisenton calls the date of her transplant her birthday.

Patient advocate Whisenton has made it her life’s work to help those living with SCD. She’s the manager of sickle cell disease community engagement for the ASH Research Collaborative (ASH RC) Sickle Cell Disease Clinical Trials Network (CTN), established by the American Society of Hematology, the world’s largest professional society concerned with the causes and treatments of blood disorders. Whisenton is carrying out the mission of the ASH RC CTN to improve the lives of individuals with SCD by expediting the development of new therapies through innovative clinical trial research. Whisenton ensures that the voice of the patient is heard at all stages of these clinical trials. “SCD warriors, don’t lose hope. There are many treatments in the pipeline to help those living with this disease have a better quality of life. Our hope is that advances in research will bring more effective treatments to individuals living with SCD.” To learn more about how the ASH RC is accelerating progress in hematology, visit: www. ashresearchcollaborative.org.

Clinical Research Participation:

On the frontlines of diversity and inclusion The importance of clinical research is widely recognized and while many decide to participate in clinical trials, there is a lack of representation of individuals from underserved communities. In 2019 alone, 46,391 individuals participated in clinical trials that resulted in the approval of 48 new drugs, yet a limited number of study volunteers identified as black/African American, Asian, and/ or Hispanic. Current efforts to address this lack of representation include a guidance document released by the FDA encouraging pharmaceutical companies to broaden their eligibility criteria and to recruit individuals from diverse communities and establishing study sites in areas that lack clinical trial opportunities. While these efforts are critical in increasing diversity and inclusion in clinical trials, it is equally important to understand how clinical research is viewed from a broad audience. Every two years, the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) conducts a global online study to gather insights on the public and patients’ perceptions and experience with clinical research. Responses from over 12,450 individuals were collected, with representation from many communities, including black (6%), Asian (10%), and Hispanic (13%). These are some highlights that can be applied to promote diversity and inclusion in clinical research studies.

The Importance of Clinical Research Individuals across many races and ethnicities acknowledge the value of clinical research studies. Many consider clinical trials to be “somewhat/ very important” to the discovery and development of new medicines. Additionally, the greatest benefits of participation in clinical research include helping to advance science and the treatment of patient’s disease/ condition (26 percent) and the possibility of improving or saving the lives of others with the same condition (21 percent). This highlights how individuals perceive and understand the positive impact participation can have – by potentially helping themselves

and others through research. Yet few individuals had recently seen or heard about a clinical trial opportunity, notably 53 percent of Asian and 52 percent of Hispanic individuals did not recall recently learning about an available trial. Where To Look For Clinical Trials? Many would begin looking for a clinical trial opportunity by asking their healthcare provider or by using an online resource. For example, over half of black individuals (52 percent) would use an online clinical trial registry, such as clinicaltrials.gov, and 42 percent of Asian individuals would use an internet search engine like Google. Recommendations from family members are also important to underserved populations in their search for clinical trials. The relationship between healthcare providers and their patients can be leveraged to increase awareness of and participation in clinical trials. It is important to many that their healthcare provider be aware of ongoing clinical trials in their local communities. Additionally, 66 percent of black individuals report being more willing to participate if their own doctor is conducting the trial. However, less than 25 percent of Hispanic and black individuals learn about a clinical trial opportunity through their healthcare providers, highlighting a significant gap between where individuals prefer to learn about clinical research and where they look for opportunities. Pharmaceutical companies can take an important first step by informing healthcare providers about new clinical trial opportunities in underserved communities. These providers can then share these opportunities with their patients in a trusted and comfortable environment. Recognizing where patients currently begin their search for trial opportunities also presents an opportunity for pharmaceutical companies to target recruitment efforts in these areas to better engage this audience. To learn more about how CISCRP is educating and informing the public and patient communities about clinical research, visit: www. ciscrp.org

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NEWS

Newly Unemployed? Understanding Your Health Insurance Options StatePoint - With millions of people nationwide filing for unemployment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals and families across the country are suddenly finding themselves without health insurance at a precarious time. Fortunately, new options may be able to help those on tight budgets. “The sudden and unexpected loss of health insurance only compounds the stress caused by job loss amidst this unprecedented economic and public health crisis. However, unemployed individuals have more options for affordable health insurance than they did during past economic recessions thanks to provisions in the Affordable Care Act, along with actions recently taken by Congress and some states,” says American Medical Association

(AMA) president, Patrice A. Harris, M.D. Whether you recently lost your job-based health insurance or were uninsured before COVID-19 struck, the AMA, a long-time advocate for health insurance coverage for all Americans, is highlighting the following options: • Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces: Family and individual health plans can be bought in the health insurance marketplaces created by the ACA. Losing a job is a qualifying life event that allows unemployed individuals up to 60 days to enroll in a marketplace health plan before the close of a special enrollment period. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, certain states have reopened enrollment periods

when all consumers -- not only those who have experienced a job loss -- can enroll in marketplace health plans and potentially qualify for financial assistance to purchase these plans based on their income. Subsidies available to eligible individuals through the health insurance marketplaces can help with premiums and out-of-pocket costs, making coverage more affordable. The Kaiser Family Foundation can help calculate an estimate of premiums and subsidies based on an individual’s income, age and family size. It will also estimate an individual’s eligibility for Medicaid. • Medicaid: While each state’s program has unique attributes for coverage, Medicaid can offer no- or low-cost coverage for those with the lowest incomes with limited costsharing requirements. Unlike the ACA marketplaces, there is no defined open enrollment period for Medicaid,

Whether you recently lost your jobbased health insurance or were uninsured before COVID-19 struck, the AMA, a long-time advocate for health insurance coverage for all Americans, is highlighting the options.

and eligible people can sign up at any time. State eligibility requirements and income qualifications vary by state. Every state covers low-income children, pregnant women and people with disabilities, while 36 states and the District of Columbia have expanded

Medicaid coverage so that adults with income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level can qualify. • Beware Short-Term Plans: The AMA cautions patients to avoid short-term limited duration plans whenever possible, especially during this pandemic. Short-term plans are designed to fill temporary gaps in health insurance when comprehensive coverage may not be an option. But it is important to understand that these plans offer very limited benefits and do not usually cover COVID-19 testing and treatment, preexisting medical conditions, mental health services, prescription drugs, and preventative and wellness care. “Avoiding gaps in coverage should be a top priority for anyone who has recently lost their health insurance,” says Harris. “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of having meaningful health insurance coverage.”

COMMENTARY

How Will History Judge Us? BY DONALD J. DEW President/CEO, Habilitative Services and Organizer, Counting on Chicago Coalition

There are moments in life when we are called to summon all of our strength and fortitude; to find our resolve as we stand at the base of a mountain that we are not sure we can climb. For everyone in Chicago who is concerned about the vulnerable and the disenfranchised, this moment feels like standing at the foot of a mountain whose peak can’t even be seen. It begins with the health crisis. Black and brown people are disproportionately infected and dying from COVID-19. Across Chicago, 70 percent of all COVID-19 deaths are occurring among African Americans. Long-standing health disparities between racial groups – such as chronic diseases and access to medical care – are now rearing its ugly head in the most tragic way possible. The health consequences of this pandemic also extend beyond the infected and hospitalized. Isolation and untreated chronic conditions can be just as dangerous. Habilitative Systems serves persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities in programs and clinics that have had to shutter. We are doing our best to mitigate the impacts as best we can. This moment is also an economic crisis and we all know who is enduring its full force: the poor and disadvantaged. It is the Uber drivers and dishwashers, the bell hops, and janitors. These are the people, living paycheck to paycheck, who were already struggling to balance on the shaky tightrope of life inside a fundamentally flawed social system, and now are the most likely to fall off. In a cruel irony of timing, this is all happening at the exact moment of the decennial census on which decisions of funding to human services will be made. If making sure everyone is counted in Illinois was monumentally important before, it is absolutely essential now. As a leader of the Counting on Chicago Coalition, Illinois’ largest Census Regional Intermediary, I am focused urgently on reaching hard-to-count populations www.citizennewspapergroup.com

in this moment of social distancing. Thankfully, the human service agencies within the Coalition are strategically positioned to engage and support this at the grass roots level. Everyone Needed In the face of this trauma and threat, lurks opportunities to come together. But it will take everyone. It will require politicians at all levels to forgo gamesmanship and recognize the essential role that government must play. Further, any policy promulgated must be effectuated at the community level so the benefits actually gets to the intended recipients. It will require the news and media industry to focus more on the real world, everyday impacts this crisis is having on the most vulnerable population rather than the horserace of political jockeying. It will require large corporations, who have longed supported community-based human service providers, to step in and increase their support. It will require those of us in the human service provider community to redouble our efforts to rebuild society’s social fabric and continue serving as a valuable economic engine. It will require those with financial security to help the less fortunate with contributions, volunteerism and advocating to your representatives that a safety net is important to you as well. It will require the vulnerable and those in need of services to do everything within their personal power to reduce the demand on the human services system. And, very importantly, it’s up to ALL of us to stand up and be counted in the 2020 Census. Our voice, our enfranchisement has never been more important. Our children and grandchildren will look back on this moment and take stock of how we did as a society. How did we stand up for vulnerable? Did we allow society to blame the victims and let only the strong survive? How well did we rise to the crisis? Let us be sure that history judges us well.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of May 20, 2020

If I could do one thing, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have a daycare closer to work. If you could do one thing for your community, what would it be? More daycare centers? More funding for Head Start? Completing the 2020 Census is a safe and easy way to inform how billions of dollars in funding flow into your community for hundreds of services. Respond online, by phone, or by mail.

Complete the census at:

2020CENSUS.GOV Paid for by U.S. Census Bureau.

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10 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of May 20, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

Free Family Entertainment from Home Family Features - As people from coast to coast hunker down at home, some with children, taking a mental break from a new and unfamiliar lifestyle with the world of entertainment can be a way to relax and disconnect. All you need is a TV with a Wi-Fi connection to access free, family-friendly movies to keep the kids entertained while at home, as well as other films for parents to watch after the kids have gone to bed (or after a day in the home office is done). An option like Tubi, the world’s largest free, ad-supported movie and TV service, features a library of more than 20,000 on-demand movies and TV shows on more than 25 different devices, including mobile devices, smart TVs, video game consoles and more, without the hassle of credit cards and subscription fees. “When you can’t get out and explore the world like you’re used to, your home TV screen is a great way to make a virtual escape,” said Maude Garrett, pop culture expert and founder of the Geek Bomb website. “The wide selection available on Tubi makes it a great option for family members of all ages, and even better, it’s free so families can tune in again and again.” Young viewers can follow the adventures of countless classic and contemporary characters such as: l Throwback series like “Casper the Friendly Ghost,” “My Little Pony” and “Dennis the Menace”

Maude Garrett

Today’s cartoon favorites like “Sonic the Hedgehog” and “Transformers Rescue Bots” l Educational programs and documentaries like “Learn with Verne” and “The Traveling Trio,” an adventure-filled series following three siblings Grab a bowl of popcorn and enjoy family time together with a wide range of full-length films, including: l The story of a young adventurer racing to uncover the secrets of a sunken ship that may hold a vast fortune and an ancient curse in Steven Spielberg’s “Adventures of TinTin” l

All you need is a TV with a Wi-Fi connection to access free, family-friendly movies to keep the kids entertained while at home, as well as other films for parents to watch after the kids have gone to bed (or after a day in the home office is done). l The chronicles of a young sea turtle named Sammy and his friend, Ray, who swim around the world enduring the challenges of the oceans in search of Shelly, the love of Sammy’s life in “A Turtle’s Tale” l A light-hearted look at what happens when kids rule the world in “Opposite Day,” featuring comedian Pauly Shore, among others l A modern spin on the classic “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” with Will Arnett and

Megan Fox, following four pizza-loving mutated turtle brothers who unleash their ninja skills on New York City, which has been ravaged by the evil Shredder To take advantage of the expansive library of film and TV titles that can let your family enjoy a getaway from the safety of home, and to learn more about starting your free subscription, visit Tubi.TV. SOURCE: Tubi

Betaal releases on Netflix this May 24, 2020.

Netflix’s drops trailer of its horror-thriller series BETAAL releasing on May 24, 2020 Hell is about to be unleashed. A tunnel, which no one has dared to open for decades, hides a curse that could change an entire country’s fate forever. What is the cost for those who would dare to step inside? How far would you go to battle the demons within? Netflix recently dropped the trailer of its upcoming series Betaal that hits the

service on May 24, 2020. Renowned horror studio Blumhouse Television, SK Global Entertainment and Red Chillies Entertainment come together to present this horror-thriller series. The story is set in a remote village, which quickly becomes the arena of a breathless battle when a two-century-old East India Company Colonel, infected with the Betaal’s

Netflix recently dropped the trailer of its upcoming series Betaal that hits the service on May 24, 2020.

curse, and his battalion of blood-thirsty zombie redcoats are released from their tomb - attacking anything with a pulse. With the CIPD (Counter Insurgency Police Department) forces pitted

against the undead army, hapless civilians are trapped in a gripping, edge-of-your-seat conflict. Betaal is created, directed and written by Patrick Graham, co-directed by

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Nikhil Mahajan and cowritten by Suhani Kanwar. Starring Viineet Kumar, Aahana Kumra, Suchitra Pillai, Jitendra Joshi, Jatin Goswami, Manjiri Pupala, and Syna Anand, the series

guarantees a nail-biting, gripping battle that will keep you hooked, while it explores age-old secrets and ideologies that live to this day. Betaal releases on Netflix this May 24, 2020.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of May 20, 2020

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12 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of May 20, 2020

COVID-19 Testing Available To All Together We Can Continue Flattening The Spread of The COVID Virus

PLEASE NOTE: SOME OF THE SITES MIGHT REQUIRE APPOINTMENTS (CALL)

COVID-19 Testing Sites are opening up across the city. Here is a list of some that are already open and administering tests: Kennedy-King College 6301 S. Halsted Suburbs Movie Studio Grill 210 W. 87th St. Walgreen’s 347 E. 95th St. www.walgreens.com/covid19testing Access Health Facility 5153 S. Ashland 800-836-7633

Roseland Hospital 45 W. 111th St. 773-995-3000 Aunt Martha’s Health and Wellness Center 5001S. Michigan Ave. 877-692-8686

Harvey Aunt Martha’s Health and Wellness Center 15420 S. Dixie Highway 877-692-8686 Chicago Heights Aunt Martha’s Health and Wellness Center 500 Dixie Highway 877-692-8686

Gately Park 744 E. 103rd St. www.citizennewspapergroup.com

Orland Park Physicians Immediate Care 9570 W. 159th St. 708-675-7070